Predation on Herring Larvae and Eggs by Sand-Eels Ammodytes Marinus (Rait) and Hyperoplus Lanceolatus (Lesauvage)

• Published in: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
• Main Authors: Rankine, P.W., Morrison, J.A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1989
• Subjects: Aquatic Science; Christensen; Van der Veer; Hyperoplus lanceolatus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315400029556; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315400029556

Many field observations have been made on predation by a variety of fish species on the demersally spawned eggs of the Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus L.) (Dunn, 1898; Bowman, 1922; Hempel & Hempel, 1971; Toresen, 1985). Field observations on the predation of herring larvae by fish are comparatively rare although jellyfish medusae have been identified as larval predators (Van der Veer et al , 1983; Moller, 1984). Recently several experiments have been carried out on the predation of medusae and other planktonic organisms (Bailey & Batty, 1983) and of fish on herring larvae (Christensen, 1983; Fuiman & Gamble, 1987). Despite the lack of field observations Hunter (1984) considered that predation, most probably by fish, was the major cause of mortality in fish larvae.