Abstract
A total of 45 juvenile [30.0–57.4 mm total length (TL)] slime flounder Microstomus achne were collected in the coastal area of southern Hokkaido from April to July in 2001 and April to June in 2002. Their diets were analyzed. Slime flounder juveniles of 30.0–39.9 mm TL fed predominantly on small crustaceans (gammarid amphipods, harpacticoids and cumaceans) and those of 40.0–57.4 mm TL on gammarid amphipods, cumaceans and polychaetes. The major prey items changed with growth from small crustaceans (e.g., harpacticoids) to polychaetes, although gammarid amphipods were the major prey items throughout the juvenile period (30.0–57.4 mm TL).
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Acknowledgments
We are grateful for the help of K. Nomura (Usujiri Fisheries Station Field Science Center for the Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University) with the field sampling. We also specially thank H. Munehara, M. Joh, T. Hosono, T. Sakakibara and K. Nakaya, who gave us much advice and special support. Finally, we thank the anonymous reviewers and D. Kitagawa for their constructive comments on the manuscript.
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Nakaya, M., Abe, T. Feeding habits of juvenile slime flounder Microstomus achne in the coastal area of southern Hokkaido. Ichthyol Res 58, 377–381 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-011-0231-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-011-0231-5