spatial analysis of trophic composition: a case study of hairtail (Trichiurus japonicus) in the East China Sea

• Published in: Hydrobiologia Vol. 632; no. 1; pp. 79 - 90
• Main Authors: Liu, Yong, Cheng, Jiahua, Chen, Yong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 01.10.2009; Springer Netherlands; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal reproduction; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Crustaceans; Diet; Ecology; Feeding; Fish; Fisheries; Fisheries surveys; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Life Sciences; Marine; Marine ecology; Predation; Predators; Prey; Primary Research Paper; Scomber; Sea water ecosystems; Spatial analysis; Spatial distribution; Spawning; Synecology; Trichiurus japonicus; Zoology; East China Sea; INW, Donghai Sea; INW, Japan; Gonadal maturity; Spatial distribution; Prey composition; East China Sea; Feeding migration; Composition; Migration; Genital system; Spatial analysis; Trophic relation; Feeding; Case study; Marine environment; Prey; Aquatic environment; Vertebrata; Hydrobiology; Gonad; Pisces; Trichiurus japonicus; Maturity
• ISSN: 0018-8158; 1573-5117
• DOI: 10.1007/s10750-009-9829-2

The spatial distribution of fish on feeding grounds is an important factor in determining their prey composition. Of the factors that may influence the spatial distribution on the feeding ground and subsequent diet composition is the fish maturation stage. Using hairtail (Trichiurus japonicus) as an example, we evaluated the impacts of gonad development stage on diet composition. Hairtail supports one of the most valuable and largest fisheries in the East China Sea. As one of the top predators, it plays an important role in the ecosystem. We analyzed hairtail stomach samples collected on their feeding grounds from a fisheries-independent survey program in September 2005. Our analyses suggest that females in their third maturity stage tended to feed more intensively. Fish were the most important preys for hairtail, accounting for 72.6% of the total stomach contents in weight. The four most important fish species were juvenile hairtail (25.2%), Japanese scad (11.4%), Japanese jack mackerel (7.7%), and small yellow croaker (5.9%), suggesting strong cannibalism. A cluster analysis suggests that hairtail could be divided into three groups in their spatial distribution based on their diets: one group with similar percentages of fish and crustacean preys mainly distributed in the south of East China Sea far from the coast; one group mainly consuming fish and distributed over the north of East China Sea near the coast; and the third group consuming mainly crustacean species mainly distributed in the open sea. We hypothesize that gonadal development stage of hairtail may determine their movement from spawning ground to feeding ground, and subsequently spatial distribution on the feeding ground, which in turn results in different feeding intensities and prey compositions.