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Food of the roughhead grenadier, Macrourus berglax , Lacepede in North Norwegian waters
Author(s) -
Eliassen JE.,
Jobling M.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1985.tb04276.x
Subject(s) - biology , predation , intraspecific competition , generalist and specialist species , competition (biology) , benthic zone , fishery , ecology , crustacean , pelagic zone , habitat
Over 30 different prey species were found in the stomachs of roughhead grenadiers, Macrourus berglax , caught at depths of approximately 700 m off the coast of northern Norway. Crustaceans and fish were the principal prey categories and large, mature grenadiers are classified as being generalist feeders taking predominantly benthopelagic organisms. There is evidence for an ontogenetic shift in dietary composition, with a change from benthic prey to an increased reliance on benthopelagic prey as the fish increase in size and this results in reduced intraspecific competition for food.