Feeding habits of splendid alfonsino Beryx splendens in the vicinity of Kuroshio, the south of Japan

Abstract

Gut contents and nitrogen isotope ratio (δ15N) analyses were conducted on splendid alfonsino Beryx splendens collected in the vicinity of Kuroshio from May 2015 to November 2016 (n = 708) to identify their feeding habits in the Western North Pacific. Micronektonic fish, shrimp, and squid were the dominant prey species, with the Decapoda Acanthephyra quadrispinosa, Prehensilosergia prehensilis, Cephalopoda Enoploteuthis chunii, Chiroteuthis calyx, Teleostei Sigmops gracilis, and Gonostoma elongatum. These micronektons are common in the Kuroshio Current; thus, B. splendens is a possible opportunistic feeder. Gut content weight (GCW), occurrence (%O) of fish and squid, and δ15N were significantly increased with the fork length (FL) of B. splendens. Only the %O of shrimp does not show a significant relationship with the FL of B. splendens. These indicated the ontogenetic shift of dominant prey from shrimp to fish. Fattened specimens could also prey on a greater number of fish. The seasonality of GCW and %O values was high in spring and autumn and low in summer and winter. This seasonality indicated that the feeding habits of B. splendens are controlled by primary productivity in the surface layer and/or by maturity. When the Kuroshio flowed in the north of Hachijojima Island, the GCW was significantly increased, and some organisms, including C. calyx, G. elongatum, and S. gracilis, were preyed on more. While the offshore area of the Kuroshio has low productivity, B. splendens can actively prey in this area, indicating that it is an important feeding ground for this species.