Feeding ecology of Japanese Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus niphonius) along the eastern coastal waters of China

• Published in: Acta oceanologica Sinica Vol. 40; no. 8; pp. 98 - 107
• Main Authors: Sui, Haozhi, Xue, Ying, Li, Yunkai, Xu, Binduo, Zhang, Chongliang, Ren, Yiping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing The Chinese Society of Oceanography 01-08-2021; Springer Nature B.V; Laboratory of Fisheries Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment,College of Fisheries,Ocean University of China,Qingdao 266003,China; Field Observation and Research Station of Haizhou Bay Fishery Ecosystem,Ministry of Education,Qingdao 266003,China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes,Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology(Qingdao),Qingdao 266237,China; Field Observation and Research Station of Haizhou Bay Fishery Ecosystem,Ministry of Education,Qingdao 266003,China%College of Marine Sciences,Shanghai Ocean University,Shanghai 201306,China%Laboratory of Fisheries Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment,College of Fisheries,Ocean University of China,Qingdao 266003,China
• Subjects: Adaptability; Ammobates persicus; Ammodytes personatus; Analysis; Anchovies; Animal population; Climatology; Clupeoid fisheries; Coastal waters; Composition; Content analysis; Diet; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Ecology; Engineering Fluid Dynamics; Engraulis japonicus; Environmental Chemistry; Euphausia pacifica; Feeding; Fish; Fish populations; Fish reproduction; Fisheries; Leptochela gracilis; Mackerel; Marine & Freshwater Sciences; Marine fishes; Nutrition; Nutrition research; Oceanography; Population dynamics; Populations; Predators; Prey; Scomberomorus niphonius; Spatial variations; Spawning; Spawning grounds; Stable isotopes; Stolephorus; Stomach; Stomach content; Trophic levels; China; spawning groups; dietary plasticity; Japanese Spanish mackerel; isotopic niche breadth; feeding strategy
• ISSN: 0253-505X; 1869-1099
• DOI: 10.1007/s13131-021-1796-0

Feeding activities provide necessary nutrition and energy to support the reproduction and development of fish populations. The feeding ecology and dietary plasticity of fish are important factors determining their recruitment and population dynamics. As a top predator, Japanese Spanish mackerel (
Scomberomorus niphonius
) supports one of the most valuable fisheries in China. In this study, the feeding ecology and diet composition of Japanese Spanish mackerel spawning groups were analysed based on samples collected from six spawning grounds along the eastern coastal waters of China during spring (March to May) in 2016 and 2017. Both stomach contents and stable isotope analysis were conducted. Stomach content analysis showed that spawning groups of Japanese Spanish mackerel mainly fed on fish, consuming more than 40 different prey species. Diets were significantly different among sampling locations. The most important prey species were
Stolephorus
in Fuzhou, Japanese anchovy
Engraulis japonicus
in Xiangshan,
Euphausia pacifica
in Lüsi, sand lance
Ammodytes personatus
in Qingdao and Weihai, and
Leptochela gracilis
in Laizhou Bay. Stable isotope analysis showed that the trophic level of Japanese Spanish mackerel was relatively high and generally increased with latitude from south to north. In the 1980s, the diet of Japanese Spanish mackerel was dominated solely by Japanese anchovies in the eastern coastal waters of China. The results in the present study showed that the importance of Japanese anchovies declined considerably, and this fish was not the most dominant diet in most of the investigated waters. Both the spatial variations in diet composition and changes in the dominant diet over the long term indicated the high adaptability of Japanese Spanish mackerel to the environment. Combining the results of stomach analysis and stable isotope analysis from different tissues provided more comprehensive and accurate dietary information on Japanese Spanish mackerel. The study provides essential information about the feeding ecology of Japanese Spanish mackerel and will benefit the management of its populations in the future.