Daily ration of Japanese Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius larvae

SUMMARY: Diel successive samplings of Japanese Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius larvae were conducted throughout 24 h both in the sea and in captivity in order to estimate their daily ration. Using the Elliott and Persson model, the instantaneous gastric evacuation rate was estimated from the depletion of stomach contents (% dry bodyweight) with time during the night for wild fish (3.0–11.5 mm standard length) and from starvation experiments for reared fish (8, 10, and 15 days after hatching (DAH)). Japanese Spanish mackerel is a daylight feeder and exhibited piscivorous habits from first feeding both in the sea and in captivity. Feeding activity peaked at dusk. The estimated daily ration for wild larvae were 111.1 and 127.2% in 1996 and 1997, respectively; and those for reared larvae ranged from 90.6 to 111.7% of dry bodyweight. Based on the estimated value of daily rations for reared fish, the total number of newly hatched red sea bream Pagrus major larvae preyed by a Japanese Spanish mackerel from first feeding (5 DAH) to beginning of juvenile stage (20 DAH) in captivity was calculated to be 1139–1404.