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Stomach contents of harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena (L.), from the Bay of Fundy

Publication ,  Journal Article
Recchia, CA; Read, AJ
Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
January 1, 1989

For harbour porpoises caught in the W Bay of Fundy during June-September, Atlantic herring Clupea harengus was the most important prey species, contributing 80% of the total caloric intake, with some spatial and temporal variation. Silver hake Merluccius bilinearis and Atlantic cod Gadus morhua were also imporant, but together comprised only 17% of the total caloric intake. No differences were found in relative prey importance between adult porpoises of different reproductive conditions, but lactating females ingested more fish and had a significantly higher total caloric intake than nonlactating females or mature males. The diet of porpoises collected from the same area in 1969-1972 consisted of a higher proportion of pelagic prey and a lower proportion of demersal species. This may be attributed to differences in capture method, as the earlier sample of porpoises was collected at the surface, while the present animals were captured at depths of 45-100 m. -from Authors

Duke Scholars

Published In

Canadian Journal of Zoology

DOI

ISSN

0008-4301

Publication Date

January 1, 1989

Volume

67

Issue

9

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
  • 0608 Zoology
  • 0602 Ecology
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Recchia, C. A., & Read, A. J. (1989). Stomach contents of harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena (L.), from the Bay of Fundy. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 67(9). https://doi.org/10.1139/z89-304
Recchia, C. A., and A. J. Read. “Stomach contents of harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena (L.), from the Bay of Fundy.” Canadian Journal of Zoology 67, no. 9 (January 1, 1989). https://doi.org/10.1139/z89-304.
Recchia CA, Read AJ. Stomach contents of harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena (L.), from the Bay of Fundy. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 1989 Jan 1;67(9).
Recchia, C. A., and A. J. Read. “Stomach contents of harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena (L.), from the Bay of Fundy.” Canadian Journal of Zoology, vol. 67, no. 9, Jan. 1989. Scopus, doi:10.1139/z89-304.
Recchia CA, Read AJ. Stomach contents of harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena (L.), from the Bay of Fundy. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 1989 Jan 1;67(9).

Published In

Canadian Journal of Zoology

DOI

ISSN

0008-4301

Publication Date

January 1, 1989

Volume

67

Issue

9

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
  • 0608 Zoology
  • 0602 Ecology