The contrasting diet of Harpagifer antarcticus (Notothenioidei, Harpagiferidae) at two localities of the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

Abstract

The diet of Harpagifer antarcticus was studied at two localities of the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. The analysis of the stomach contents of specimens collected in tide pools at Potter Cove, King George Island, indicated that gammarid amphipods (mainly Gondogeneia sp.) were the main prey of this fish, followed by polychaetes, gastropods and isopods. By contrast, the specimens from Harmony Point, Nelson Island, which were recovered from stomach contents of Antarctic shags Phalacrocorax bransfieldensis feeding at depths of 46–110 m, preyed almost exclusively on the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba. These results are discussed and compared with previous studies.