Food sources for deep-sea fishes from the upper continental slope of the Grand Banks off Newfoundland

Houston, Kimberly Anne (1984) Food sources for deep-sea fishes from the upper continental slope of the Grand Banks off Newfoundland. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

Stomach contents and parasite faunas of 464 specimens of demersal fishes in 14 species were examined from the Carson Canyon region of the upper continental slope of the Grand Banks off Newfoundland. Individual species tended to feed either primarily on benthic invertebrates or on pelagic food items. Most pelagic predators also fed on benthopelagic organisms. Prevalence of parasites was 46 percent, with an average of 5.5 worms per fish. Prevalence of parasites was higher in benthic feeders (53.1%) than in pelagic fedders (28.9%). Relative abundance by group among benthic feeders was: Digenetic Trematoda 5.8%. Nematoda 53.1% and Acanthocephala 40.9%. Percent occurrence by group among pelagic feeders was: Digenetic Trematoda 27.8%, Nematoda 72.2% and Acanthocephala 0%. There were more species of benthic feeders (5) than pelagic feeders (3), but pelagic feeders were more abundant (pelagic 70.9%, benthic 20.5%). Benthic feeders were on average larger (x̄ = 270.6 g) than pelagic (x̄ = 130.6), but pelagic feeders represented a larger proportion of the biomass (pelagic 43.3%, benthic 25.94%).

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