Predation on Herring Larvae and Eggs by Sand-Eels Ammodytes Marinus (Rait) and HyperoplusLanceolatus (Lesauvage)

Abstract

Many field observations have been made on predation by a variety of fish species on the demersally spawned eggs of the Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus L.) (Dunn, 1898; Bowman, 1922; Hempel & Hempel, 1971; Toresen, 1985). Field observations on the predation of herring larvae by fish are comparatively rare although jellyfish medusae have been identified as larval predators (Van der Veer et al, 1983; Moller, 1984). Recently several experiments have been carried out on the predation of medusae and other planktonic organisms (Bailey & Batty, 1983) and of fish on herring larvae (Christensen, 1983; Fuiman & Gamble, 1987). Despite the lack of field observations Hunter (1984) considered that predation, most probably by fish, was the major cause of mortality in fish larvae.