Some preliminary results on food and feeding of young capelin larvae

Abstract

The gut contents of young capelin larvae sampled during a 24 hour period around a floating drogue were examined to study their feeding. The food consisted mainly of Calanus eggs (52%) and Calanus nauplii (42%). Compared to their abundance in plankton, Calanus eggs were by far preferred. The young larvae started to feed while still having large yolk-sacs, and the percentage of larvae feeding increased with decreasing yolk-sac size. No change in diet with age could be seen. Feeding started shortly after sunrise and declined at nightfall. A low percentage of larvae with gut content might indicate that the densities of food particles in plankton were too low to maintain survival and growth.