Feeding of capelin (Mallotus villosus) in Newfoundland waters

Abstract

Abstract The diet of capelin (Mallotus villosus Muller) from six areas off the Newfoundland and Labrador coast was compared over three seasons (January, May–June, August–September) in 1999. A total of 1247 stomachs were examined. Of these, 837 (67 %) contained food. The proportion of empty stomachs was higher in winter (55 %) than in spring (28 %) or autumn (20 %). Copepods were the major prey over all areas and seasons, occurring in 90 % of non-empty stomachs. Hyperiid amphipods, euphausiids, larvaceans and chaetognaths were also important, occurring in 30 %, 11 %, 9% and 7% of non-empty stomachs respectively. The importance of these other prey groups increased with increasing capelin size. Larger capelin contained larger prey. There were also spatial and temporal differences in diet. Capelin from Placentia Bay, southeastern Newfoundland, consumed smaller copepods and a higher proportion of amphipods than capelin from other areas. Diet composition, particularly the incidence of lipid-rich Calanus species...