Feeding ecology of the sand shrimpCrangon hakodateiRathbun, 1902 (Decapoda: Crangonidae) in the East Sea of Korea

Abstract

The feeding habits of the sand shrimp Crangon hakodatei in the East Sea (Korea) were investigated through analysis and comparison of the stomach contents of 602 individuals according to season, shrimp size class, and prey diversity. The diet of C. hakodatei consisted of 17 prey categories mainly comprising crustaceans, molluscs, polychaetes, nematodes, algae, and fishes, with crustaceans dominating the diet. Molluscs, nematodes, and fishes were also important prey, whilst other categories including polychaetes and algae comprised small percentages of the diet. For small C. hakodatei individuals (B10 mm carapace length [CL]), amphipods and mysids comprised more than 67% of the prey in both relative abundance and frequency of occurrence. Large individuals ( 10 mm CL) tended to be more dependent on amphipods than mysids. Amphipods and mysids together constituted the dominant prey, accounting for more than 50% of the diet in terms of both percent occurrence and relative abundance. The abundance and occurrence of prey showed a seasonal variation, with amphipods and mysids being the predominant prey in autumn (45%), winter (30%), and spring (40%). Amphipods were the dominant prey with regard to season, size class, sex, and area.

Review of the ecology of Crangon hakodatei Rathbun, 1902 in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Gulf

“…Crangon hakodatei is carnivorous, similar to other members of the genus Crangon (Campos et ak, 2012;Maher, 2013). Ontogénie changes in the diet have been found to shift from a diet based on small organisms during juvenile stages to larger macrofauna when in adults (Campos et ah, 2012).…”

“…Ontogénie changes in the diet have been found to shift from a diet based on small organisms during juvenile stages to larger macrofauna when in adults (Campos et ah, 2012). Previous analyses on the stomach content of C. hakodatei revealed that a diversity of prey organisms were consumed by C. hakodatei, including polychaetes, molluscs and crustaceans (Wei & Liu, 1965;Tang & Ye, 1990;Amara & Paul, 2003;Maher et al" 2013), some ophiurians, juvenile fish or pelagic fry, nematodes and occasionally holothurian Protankyra bidentata (Woodward & Barett, 1858), Sagitta sp., foraminifer and Coscinodiscus spp. (Cheng & Zhu, 1997;Maher et ak, 2013).…”

“…The diet composition of C. hakodatei can be strongly affected by spatial and temporal availability of prey (Maher et al, 2013). Spatial factors are usually related to different substratum types, which could determine the composition and structure of the potential prey community (Maher et al, 2013). Stomach fullness can be affected by both season and sex (Dong & Cheng, 1990;Tang & Ye, 1990;Cheng & Zhu, 1997;Tang, 2006;Maher et al, 2013).…”

“…Spatial factors are usually related to different substratum types, which could determine the composition and structure of the potential prey community (Maher et al, 2013). Stomach fullness can be affected by both season and sex (Dong & Cheng, 1990;Tang & Ye, 1990;Cheng & Zhu, 1997;Tang, 2006;Maher et al, 2013). Males have lower stomach fullness, indicating a slightly weaker predatory ability than females (Maher et al, 2013).…”

“…Be sides predation on small organisms, cannibalism represents an estimate of up to T a b l e II The seasonal variation of diet composition and feeding intensity of the brown shrimp Crangon hakodatei Rathbun, 1902(Dong & Cheng, 1990Tang & Ye, 1990;Cheng & Zhu, 1997;Tang, 2006;Maher et ah, 2013) 20% of the annual food consumption of C. crangon in Swedish shallow waters (Pihl & Rosenberg, 1982). The diet composition of C. hakodatei can be strongly affected by spatial and temporal availability of prey (Maher et al, 2013). Spatial factors are usually related to different substratum types, which could determine the composition and structure of the potential prey community (Maher et al, 2013).…”