Feeding habits of pointhead flounder Cleisthenes pinetorum larvae in and near Funka Bay, Hokkaido, Japan

appendicularia

水産海洋学会

水産海洋研究

The feeding habits of pointhead flounder Cleisthenes pinetorum larvae were investigated in and near Funka Bay, Hokkaido Island during 10-20 August 2001. As the larvae grew, the principal prey shifted from copepod nauplii (especially, Oithona similis and Pseudocalanus newmani) as the initial food item to copepodites and an appendicularia Oikopleura sp. Nauplii of Microsetella sp. were abundant in the sampling area, but few were eaten by the larvae. The number of prey in the larval digestive tracts increased from 08:55 and peaked near sunset, suggesting the larvae are visual day feeders. Nauplii concentrations in the water varied geographically, but the number of nauplii in the larval digestive tracts did not vary. Pointhead flounder larvae in the first feeding stage might not starve in and near Funka Bay in August 2001.