The foraging ecology of Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) during open water (July-August) in Allen Bay, Arctic Canada

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2013

Publication Title

Marine Biology

Volume

160

Issue

11

First Page

2993

Last Page

3004

Abstract

Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) is a schooling fish providing a critical link between lower and upper trophic levels in the Arctic. This study examined foraging of Arctic cod collected from Allen Bay, Cornwallis Island, Canada (~75 N 95 W), during summer 2010 using temporal indicators of diet including stomach content, and carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotopes of liver and muscle. Foraging at the time of capture reflected sympagic and epi-benthic habitats indicated by the prevalence of cyclopoid and harpacticoid copepods in stomachs, whereas stable isotope data, which provide an estimate of feeding over a longer period, indicated pelagic prey as important. Prey selection of juveniles differed from adults based on stable isotopes, while large adults showed the most separation based on stomach contents, suggesting size-related diet shifts. Compared to studies near Resolute in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, growth and pre-spawning gonadal conditions of Arctic cod have not changed. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

DOI

10.1007/s00227-013-2289-2

ISSN

00253162

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