Foraging Ecology of Pelagic Scombrids and Mahi Mahi of the Equatorial Pacific

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Abstract/Contents

Abstract: The observation of scombrid and mahi mahi foraging ecology was conducted through stomach content analysis of fishes collected along a latitudinal transect between Tahiti and Hawaii. Background research led to the hypothesis that more predatory fishes would be caught in areas with higher levels of primary productivity and that predators in these areas would have greater volumes and diversity of prey in their stomachs. In addition, it was hypothesized that in areas of high productivity, specimens would feed primarily on epipelagic prey species to avoid making energetically costly dives down to the cold mesopelagic zone. Surface chlorophyll A concentrations were used as a proxy for primary productivity while sea surface temperature was examined as a physical parameter that might affect foraging habits. A total of 30 fish were caught between Tahiti, Nuku Hiva, and Hawaii, the most abundant of which were skipjacks, mahi mahi, and yellow fin tuna. Diets consisted of epipelagic, mesopelagic, and reef associated prey items and no trends correlating diet composition to chlorophyll A concentrations or sea surface temperature emerged. Instead, foraging habits seemed to be dictated by predator size and diving physiology of the predatory species. Skipjacks collected showed a tendency for utilizing both the mesopelagic and epipelagic zone for foraging while mahi mahi appeared to only feed on prey in surface waters.

Type of resource	text
Date created	June 6, 2009

Author	Arnoldi, Natalie

Subject	Stanford@SEA
Subject	S-223
Subject	Hopkins Marine Station
Subject	Department of Biology
Subject	Department of Earth System Science
Subject	BIOHOPK 182H
Subject	BIOHOPK 323H
Subject	EARTHSYS 323
Subject	ESS 323
Subject	scombrid
Subject	mahi mahi
Subject	foraging
Subject	stomach content
Subject	Tahiti
Subject	Hawaii
Subject	primary production
Subject	predator abundance
Subject	diversity
Subject	chlorophyll
Subject	Nuku Hiva
Subject	skipjack
Subject	yellowfin
Subject	diet
Subject	reef
Subject	sea surface temperature
Subject	diving physiology
Subject	epipelagic
Genre	Student project report

Location	https://purl.stanford.edu/fp759qt8876

Use and reproduction: User agrees that, where applicable, content will not be used to identify or to otherwise infringe the privacy or confidentiality rights of individuals. Content distributed via the Stanford Digital Repository may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor.
License: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license (CC BY).

Preferred Citation: Arnoldi, Natalie. 2009. Foraging Ecology of Pelagic Scombrids and Mahi Mahi of the Equatorial Pacific. Unpublished Student Work, S-223, Stanford@SEA, Stanford Digital Repository. https://purl.stanford.edu/fp759qt8876.

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