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Selective feeding by baltic herring

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Abstract

The selective nature of feeding by baltic herring (Clupea harengus, L.) in the Bothnian bay was studied by comparison of the food intake and the abundance of potential zooplankton prey. Simultaneous sampling of zooplankton and capture of fish revealed that:

  1. 1.

    The largest food items available are selected.

  2. 2.

    When copepods are eaten, adults and late copepodids are preferred.

  3. 3.

    Compared to males Eurytemora spp. females are overrepresented in the stomachs although they are less abundant in plankton. The fact that they carry conspicuous egg sacs is thought to be the cause for this.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Ecological Zoology, Univ. of Umeå, Sweden

    Olof Sandström

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  1. Olof Sandström
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Report no 80 from the Rickleå Field Station

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Sandström, O. Selective feeding by baltic herring. Hydrobiologia 69, 199–207 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00046793

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00046793

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