Feeding Habits of the Black-edged Sculpin Gymnocanthus herzensteini in the Coastal Waters off Mukho, Gangwondo of Korea

摘要

The feeding habits of the black-edged sculpin Gymnocanthus herzensteini were studied using 944 specimens collected from February 2011 to January 2012 in the coastal waters off Mukho, Gangwondo, Korea. The G. herzensteini ranged from 11.8 to 36.3 cm intotal length (TL). The percentage of empty stomachs in G. herzensteini was 40.2%, and the main prey items were Pisces, Euphausiasea, and Macrura. The smallest size group (11.8-15.0 cm TL) consumed mainly Polychaeta and Amphipoda. The quantity of prey increased in proportion to sculpin size. The composition of prey items and feeding habits of G. herzensteini exhibited seasonal fluctuations, that is, the main prey items during spring were Euphausiasea, whereas those during other seasons were Pisces.