Feeding selectivity in Notothenia neglecta , Nybelin, from Potter Cove, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

• Published in: Antarctic Science
• Main Authors: Barrera-Oro, E.R., Casaux, R.J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1990
• Subjects: Geology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Oceanography; King George Island; South Shetland Islands; Potter Cove; Ivlev; Antarc*; Antarctic Science; Antarctica; antarcticus; Euphausia superba
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102090000281; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102090000281

A study of feeding selectivity in Notothenia neglecta Nybelin 1951, was carried out between October 1988 and January 1989 at Potter Cove, King George Island, where this is the dominant fish species. The abundance and biomass of benthic organisms from 0–40m were compared with their occurrence in the diet of 142 fish. The Ivlev index indicated that the food items positively selected by the fish were sedentary polychaetes, the isopod Glyptonotus antarcticus , the gammarid amphipod Paradexamine sp., the bivalve Dacrydyum sp., the gastropods Margarella antarctica and Eatoniella sp., and algae. The biomass of the benthic community in the sampling area was low, presumably due to the effects of anchor ice. Despite being pelagic, krill ( Euphausia superba ) was by far the main food of N. neglecta which is considered a benthic feeder.