SPELMED : Evaluation of the population status and specific management alternatives for the small pelagic fish stocks in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea : D. 2.2.1. Report on feeding ecology of small pelagic fish and their predators

SC NR. 02 - TENDER EASME/EMFF/2016/32 - SPELMED.-- 43 pages, 13 figures, 5 tables, 2 appendixesFeeding habits and trophic interactions are essential information in order to understand the functioning of marine food webs. Changes in the feeding habits or in prey quality or quantity may influence the body condition of the organisms and ultimately the growth and reproduction potential. Moreover, processes of competition with close related species can also influence the fitness of the species in a context of food limitation. We compiled and analyzed the published information on stomach content analyses, stable isotopes and indicators of ecosystem models for European sardine, European anchovy, round sardinella and European sprat. Moreover, published data on stomach content and stable isotope analysis of predators of SPF was also compiled and main predators of sardine and anchovy were identified. [...]Peer reviewe