Temporal and size‐related changes in the frequency of empty stomachs in smelt |
| |
| Authors: | M. Vinni&dagger ,J. Lappalainen&dagger , J. Horppila&dagger |
| |
| Affiliation: | Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, P. O. Box 65, Viikki, FIN‐00014 University of Helsinki, Finland |
| |
| Abstract: | The frequency of empty stomachs (FES) of 3290 smelt Osmerus eperlanus was analysed during winter and two growing seasons. Variations in FES showed that smelt is a daytime feeder and feeding activity is low during the hours of darkness and also during the winter under ice cover. The results suggested further that the diet shifts of smelt are not permanent until the onset of piscivory. |
| |
| Keywords: | empty stomachs feeding activity smelt winter |
|
|
