The feeding ecology of larval and pelagic juvenile redfish (Sebastes SPP.) on Flemish Cap (47 N, 45 W) ...

• Main Author: Anderson, John T.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2008
• Subjects: Calanus finmarchicus
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0086664; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0086664

The copepod Calanus finmarchicus dominated the biomass of all invertebrate zooplankton species sampled on Flemish Cap during 1977-1983 as sampled by both coarse (0.333 mm and 0.505 mm) and fine (0.165 mm) mesh samples. Oithona similis and Oithoma atlamtica were numerically dominant in fine mesh samples. Significant differences were observed in the rate of C. fimmarchicus development and absolute abundance among the years sampled on Flemish Cap. Copepod eggs and nauplii were preferred prey of redfish larvae whereas Oithona spp. copepodites were not selected by larvae. The preferred prey of juveniles included Oithona copepodites, in addition to eggs and nauplii. This shift at metamorphosis -was a function of changing prey availability associated with the seasonal succession of zooplankton. Significant differences in diet between 1979 and 1980 compared to 1981 resulted from differences in prey availability which appeared to be due to differences in the seasonal development of C. finmarchicus. When copepod ...