Qualitative and quantitative changes in dietary composition of marbled flounder Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae between periods of different stock sizes in Tokyo Bay, Japan.

Abstract

We compared the feeding patterns of marbled flounder Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae in Tokyo Bay between 1980s (high abundance) and 2000s (low abundance). The stomach contents weight was significantly lower in 2000s compared to that in 1980s. The dietary composition changed substantially between 1980s and 2000s; main constituents of the stomach contents were annelids, molluscs and echinoderms during 1980s. In 2000s, however, they fed predominantly on annelids. Observed changes in the stomach contents may be associated with changes in abundance and species composition of macrobenthic community, and could have affected changes in the growth and reproductive patterns between 1980s and 2000s.