Cryptic diets of forage fish: jellyfish consumption observed in the Celtic Sea and western English Channel

Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolynErthygladolygiad gan gymheiriaid

Fersiynau electronig

Dogfennau

Dangosydd eitem ddigidol (DOI)

To establish if fishes' consumption of jellyfish changes through the year, we conducted a molecular gut-content assessment on opportunistically sampled species from the Celtic Sea in October and compared these with samples previously collected in February and March from the Irish Sea. Mackerel Scomber scombrus were found to feed on hydrozoan jellyfish relatively frequently in autumn, with rare consumption also detected in sardine Sardina pilchardus and sprat Sprattus sprattus. By October, moon jellyfish Aurelia aurita appeared to have escaped predation, potentially through somatic growth and the development of stinging tentacles. This is in contrast with sampling in February and March where A. aurita ephyrae were heavily preyed upon. No significant change in predation rate was observed in S. sprattus, but jellyfish predation by S. scombrus feeding in autumn was significantly higher than that seen during winter. This increase in consumption appears to be driven by the consumption of different, smaller jellyfish species than were targeted during the winter.

Allweddeiriau

Iaith wreiddiolSaesneg
Tudalennau (o-i)1026-1032
Nifer y tudalennau7
CyfnodolynJournal of Fish Biology
Cyfrol94
Rhif y cyfnodolyn6
Dyddiad ar-lein cynnar12 Maw 2019
Dynodwyr Gwrthrych Digidol (DOIs)
StatwsCyhoeddwyd - 26 Meh 2019

Cyfanswm lawlrlwytho

Nid oes data ar gael
Gweld graff cysylltiadau