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Grazing by the Antarctic fish Notothenia coriiceps: evidence for selective feeding on macroalgae

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 May 2004

K. Iken
Affiliation:
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Postfach 120 161, Columbusstraße, D-27568 Bremerhaven, Germany
E.R. Barrera-Oro
Affiliation:
Instituto Antártico Argentino, Cerrito 1248, (1010) Buenos Aires, Argentina
M.L. Quartino
Affiliation:
Instituto Antártico Argentino, Cerrito 1248, (1010) Buenos Aires, Argentina
R.J. Casaux
Affiliation:
Instituto Antártico Argentino, Cerrito 1248, (1010) Buenos Aires, Argentina
T. Brey
Affiliation:
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Postfach 120 161, Columbusstraße, D-27568 Bremerhaven, Germany
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Abstract

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In Potter Cove, King George Island, Antarctica, macroalgae provide a significant food resource for herbivores. The demersal fish Notothenia coriiceps feeds on macroalgae. Eighteen algal species were identified in stomach contents: two chlorophytes, ten rhodophytes and six phaeophytes. Among these the rhodophyte Palmaria decipiens, the phaeophyte Desmarestia menziesii and the chlorophyte Monostroma hariotii comprised the greatest proportions of algal biomass. A food selection study showed four algae to be preferred (P. decipiens, M. hariotii, D. menziesii, Iridaea cordata) and two species to be avoided (Desmarestia anceps and Himantothallus grandifolius) by N. coriiceps. The present investigation indicates that this fish feeds not only intentionally, but also selectively, on macroalgae. Preference for particular algal species is not related to associated epifaunal biomass or to associated amphipod biomass.

Type
Papers—Life Sciences and Oceanography
Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 1997