Dietary habits of fish populations in the Lower Medway Estuary

Abstract

Populations of mainly first‐year fish overwinter in the Medway Estuary, an area offering shelter and a rich and varied food supply. In the absence of previous investigations, the present study examines the dietary habits of four fish species; gadoids Merlangius merlangus and Trisopterus luscus, and pleuronectids Platichthys flesus and Pleuronectes platessa.Gadoids fed predominantly on fast moving nektonic organisms such as brown shrimps, mysids and fish while pleuronectids preferred the slower moving tubificid and polychaete worms. Seasonal fluctuations of the dietary constituents are considered in relation to changes within the populations of both prey and predator organisms.