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The Comparative Feeding Ecology of Six Species of Shark and Four Species of Ray (Elasmobranchii) In The North-East Atlantic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

J.R. Ellis
Affiliation:
Marine Fish and Fisheries Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP.
M.G. Pawson
Affiliation:
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Fisheries Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT
S.E. Shackley
Affiliation:
Marine Fish and Fisheries Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP.

Extract

The stomach contents of ten species of elasmobranch from the north-eastern Atlantic indicate that most are generalist predators, eating a variety of polychaetes, molluscs, crustaceans and teleosts. Two species, Mustelus asterias and Squatina scjuatina were found to be specialist feeders, consuming portunid crabs and pleuronectids, respectively. Measures for both dietary breadth and dietary overlap are given and the implications of elasmobranch predation on the prey communities and on commercial species are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1996

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