Comparative stomach contents and growth of the juvenile black rockfish Sebastes inermis reared in illuminated and unilluminated cages

摘要

The principal objective of the present study was to determine the positive effects of artificial illumination on the juvenile black rockfish Sebastes inermis by comparing stomach contents and growth between juveniles exposed to light and those maintained in the absence of light. The major prey items of juvenile black rockfish in illuminated cages were: copepods (%IRI=62.6); amphipods (%IRI=36.7); and polychaetes (%IRI=0.3), whereas those, in unilluminated cages were: copepods (%IRI=93.3); amphipods (%IRI=6.1); and polychaetes (%IRI=0.4). The specific growth rates of the juveniles reared in illuminated cages (0.67%) were significantly higher than those juveniles maintained in the unilluminated cages (0.27%).