Population interactions among free-living bluefish and prey fish in an ocean environment |
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Authors: | Carl Safina Joanna Burger |
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Affiliation: | (1) National Audubon Society, 306 South Bay Avenue, 11751 Islip, NY, USA;(2) Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, 08854 Piscataway, NJ, USA |
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Abstract: | Summary We used sonar to measure relative abundance, location, and depth of prey fish schools (primarily Anchoa and Ammodytes) in the ocean near Fire Island Inlet, New York from May to August for 4 years to examine predatorprey interactions. Prey fish numbers built through May, peaked in June, and thereafter declined coincident with the arrival of predatory bluefish. Bluefish abundance and feeding behavior correlated inversely with prey fish abundance and depth. Bluefish may drive seasonal patterns of prey abundance and distribution in this area through direct predation and by causing prey to flee. |
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Keywords: | Pomatomus saltatrix Ammodytes Anchoa Predator avoidance Prey regulation |
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