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1 April 2009 Feeding Habits of Young-of-the-year Black and Copper Rockfish in Eelgrass Habitats of Humboldt Bay, California
R. S. Studebaker, T. J. Mulligan
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Abstract

Temperate eelgrass beds are temporally and spatially complex habitats that often provide a transition habitat for many species of juvenile fishes. The feeding habits of young-of-the-year Black Rockfish (Sebastes melanops) and Copper Rockfish (S. caurinus) inhabiting eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds in Humboldt Bay, California, were assessed in 2003 and 2004. A total of 16 prey types were noted for both species. Gammarid amphipods and copepods were the dominant prey types. Shifts in prey type were observed for Copper Rockfish as prey preference shifted from smaller planktonic prey to larger epiphytic prey types over time. No shifts in prey type were noted for Black Rockfish. Prey types for both species were consistent with previous studies conducted in temperate eelgrass habitats, which noted the importance of small crustaceans as prey.

R. S. Studebaker and T. J. Mulligan "Feeding Habits of Young-of-the-year Black and Copper Rockfish in Eelgrass Habitats of Humboldt Bay, California," Northwestern Naturalist 90(1), 17-23, (1 April 2009). https://doi.org/10.1898/1051-1733-90.1.17
Received: 20 June 2008; Accepted: 1 October 2008; Published: 1 April 2009
KEYWORDS
Black Rockfish
Copper Rockfish
diet
eelgrass
Humboldt Bay
IRI
juvenile
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