Diet Composition of Hippoglossoides dubius and Distribution of Megalobenthos in Funka Bay and Its Offshore Waters, Hokkaido

Sampling surveys to investigate the diet composition of Hippoglossoides dubius and distribution of megalobenthos were conducted from June 1985 to September 1986 in Funka Bay and its offshore waters. In the bay, Ophiura spp. was the predominant species, followed by Crangon dalli, Tachyrhyncus reticulatus, Haustator fortilirata, and Turritellopsis acicula stimpsoni. In the northeastern part of the bay mouth and outside the bay, the species composition fluctuated with season. The principal food of H. dubius was the dominant species in megalobenthos communities through the year except for mollusca with hard shells. It is inferred that the seasonal and geographical differences in the diet of H. dubius reflect the megalobenthos communities.