Abstract
The probability of a North Sea whiting Merlangius merlangus stomach containing fresh food was depressed when partially digested food was already present in the stomach. The lowered probability was detected even at levels where the fish was physiologically able to ingest an average meal. The feeding probability of c. 15% of the fish caught was predicted to be severely decreased at the level of partially digested food found in the stomachs. No effect of stomach fullness on meal size was found. indicating that the saturation is affecting search activity rather than prey or meal size selection. The diurnal pattern in food intake varied between the five sampling locations, presumably Lis a result of differences in prey availability. (C) 2002 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Fish Biology |
| Volume | 61 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Pages (from-to) | 579-593 |
| ISSN | 0022-1112 |
| Publication status | Published - 2002 |
