Abstract
A study was conducted on yearly changes of prey species of minke whales off Japan, using data recorded by whalers on the stomach contents of 10, 164 minke whales taken in coastal whaling operations from 1948-87. Clear changes in the diet were observed in three recognized whaling grounds off the Pacific coast of northern Japan in the southern Sea of Okhotsk after the mid-1970's, notably the emergence of Japanese pilchard as a major prey species. A clear upward trend in the incidence of whales having Japanese pilchard coincided with an increase in catch and index of abundance of this species in commercial fisheries. A pronounced change of prey species from chub mackerel to Japanese pilchard was observed off the Pacific coast of Hokkaido in 1977, while the dominant species taken by purse seine fisheries in the same area in 1976 also changed from chub mackerel to Japanese pilchard. The relationship between changes in the diet of minke whales and changes of dominant species in the pelagic biocenosis is discussed.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
