Density‐dependent predation and implications for stock enhancement with Japanese flounder

Abstract

In laboratory predation trials kinsen‐gani crab Matuta lunaris rarely preyed on hatchery‐reared (HR) Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus, even at extremely elevated prey densities (c. 90 fish m−2), but fed readily on sacrificed Japanese founder. This suggests that under similar conditions in the wild predator‐prey interactions between kinsen‐gani and juvenile Japanese flounder are likely to be weak. Larger Japanese flounder readily cannibalized smaller conspecifics, suggesting that within‐release group cannibalism may contribute considerably to post‐release mortality of HR Japanese flounder when sufficient size variation exists within groups of released fish. Kinsen‐gani presence had no effect on within‐release group cannibalism rates of large Japanese flounder on small Japanese flounder. Within‐release group cannibalism rates were significantly affected by densities of smaller (prey) fish, implying that the number of fish released (and thus post‐release densities) in stock enhancement programmes may significantly affect post‐release mortality rates. The probability of within‐release group cannibalism increased rapidly as the cannibal‐to‐prey size ratio exceeded 1.6, suggesting that minimizing size variation of released HR individuals will reduce post‐release cannibalism rates. These results have implications for Japanese flounder stock enhancement release strategies, and may be applicable to other finfish stock enhancement programmes.