Comparison of zooplankton lists between Coilia mystus food contents and collections from the Yangtze River Estuary & Hangzhou Bay

The Coilia mystus, estuary migratory and subject to the Family Engraulidae, mainly distributed along the coastal waters, especially in bay and estuary, is a very important small economic fish. One of the main spawning grounds is located from Yangtze River to Hangzhou bay. Stow net with double stake can be used to harvest it in fishing season. Early research about feeding habits of C. mystus, studies on the food of C. mystus (L.), showed that C. mystus mainly feed on Crustacean, of which Copepods first place, Mysids and Decapoda second. Besides, some references about biological characteristics of C. mystus were referred to feeding habits. However, there have been little exclusive studies on its feeding habits, besides the quantitative analysis studies on C. mystus. In order to investigate the diet of C. mystus, 1355 specimens were collected from the Yangtze River estuary and Hangzhou bay from June to August, 2009. The stomach contents of the specimens were classified as soon as possible after the collection. M