Predation by sprat and herring on pelagic fish eggs in a plaice spawning area in the Irish Sea

Abstract

Predation on planktonic fish eggs was examined by stomach content analysis of sprat and herring sampled in a plaice spawning area to the east of the Isle of Man in March 1993. Plankton samples were taken to examine prey selection. The clupeids showed a selection for the later developmental stages of plaice eggs. Plaice eggs had a refuge in size from predation by sprat 80 mm total length showed a strong selection for plaice eggs, presumably due to their large size.

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