Utilities of food and habitat of three congeneric grenadiers (Coelorinchus spp.) in waters of Northeastern Taiwan

• Main Authors: Ching-Chao Lee, 李境超
• Other Authors: 邵廣昭
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2007
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/54969847911219601461

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 海洋研究所 === 95 === Grenadiers are the most dominant fish species of the demersal fish community in the waters off northeastern Taiwan. Due to their relative large size and high abundance, they are major predators in the local demersal community. Three congeneric species of grenadiers, Coelorinchus kishinouyei, C. leptorhinus and C. multispinulosus were collected by bottom trawler at depths of 100-600 m in the study area. The diets and depth distributions of these fishes were analyzed to investigate: 1) whether resource partitioning exists among these three congeneric grenadier species by water depths or feeding habits; 2) How to used resource partitioning when congengeric species coexists in the same depth; and 3) whether ontogenetic shifts in diet or distribution depth exist for grenadiers with different developmental stages. Results showed that C. multispinulosus mainly occupied depths of 100-200 m, C. kishinouyei 200-400 m and C. leptorhinus 400-600 m. Two grenadier species pairs coexisted at some depths, C. kishinouyei and C. multispinulosus at 200 m, and C. kishinouyei and C. leptorhinus at 400 m. Diet analyses of these pairs reveal apparent resource partitioning resulting from interspecies competition. When species coexistence occurred, the numerically dominant species would retain its preferred diet while the less abundant species made adjustments in its food habits. The distributions of body size for C. leptorhinus suggested separation into two size groups. The smaller size group (4-9 cm PAL) ate mainly copepods and polycheates while the larger size group (10-15 cm PAL) ate shrimp and polycheates, suggesting an ontogenetic diet shift. The previously described “bigger-deeper” phenomenon was not supported because of inconsistent patterns observed between body size and distributional depths of the three grenadier species studied.