Effects of hypoxia on the feeding intensity and somatic condition of the blackfin flounder Glyptocephalus stelleri in Funka Bay, Japan

Abstract

To clarify effects of hypoxia on feeding and somatic condition of blackfin flounder Glyptocephalus stelleri, we studied the temporal relationship between hypoxia and feeding intensity as well as the condition of this species in May and August 2006–2012. Hypoxia occurred near the seafloor in August between 2010 and 2012 but not in May. Population densities of gammarid amphipods Ampelisca brevicornis and Melita sp., the main prey items of blackfin flounder, were consistently low; however, the somatic condition and feeding intensity of blackfin flounder increased during hypoxia. Such an increase was not detected in May 2012 under non-hypoxic conditions. These facts imply that the hypoxia increased prey availability for blackfin flounder through the increased exposure of the gammarids over the sea floor, and, thus, resulted in improved body condition in August 2011 and 2012. Hypoxia positively would influence the somatic condition and feeding intensity of blackfin flounder in Funka Bay in August 2011 and 2012; however, the somatic condition during this period did not reach the levels recorded in 1983, suggesting that habitat quality for blackfin flounder in Funka Bay in 2011 and 2012 was worse than that in 1983.