Work

Aspects of the trophic ecology of the mesopelagic fish Lampanyctus alatus (family Myctophidae) in the eastern Gulf of Mexico

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: Lampanyctus alatus is an abundant myctophid in subtropical waters of the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The population has been estimated at 85–140 × 103 fish per km2 of sea surface, with most of the population biomass (>60%) in individuals larger than 35 mm. This species concentrates in the 80175 m zone at night and at 550–750 m during the day. The diet is essentially crustacean (>98%), with over 60 prey species having been identified. Seventy-three percent of the number and 44% of the biomass of the diet are copepods. Euphausiids rank first in biomass and are particularly important in the diet of larger fishes. Lampanyctus alatus is selective for prey >1 mm and for the copepod genus Pleuromamma.A diel feeding cycle is apparent, stomachs being fullest in the period 0100–0500 h. Daily ration is estimated at 2–4% of body weight and decreases proportionately with increasing fish size. It is estimated that one-fifth of respiration and less than one-tenth of the daily ration is utilized in diel vertical migr...

Source: Biological Oceanography

DOI: 10.1080/01965581.1985.10749476

Authors: Thomas L. Hopkins, Ronald C. Baird

Institutions: University of South Florida St. Petersburg, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Language: English

Topic: Marine and fisheries research

Subfield: Global and Planetary Change

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life below water

Open Access status: green

Funder: Johns Hopkins University