The diet of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena (L.)) in coastal waters of Eastern Canada, with special reference to the Bay of Fundy

1974 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 777-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. D. Smith ◽  
D. E. Gaskin
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Clupea Harengus ◽  
Osmerus Mordax ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Silver Hake ◽  
Merluccius Bilinearis ◽  
Harbor Porpoises

Stomach contents of 81 harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena (L.)) collected from eastern Canadian coastal waters during 1969–1972 were examined. A total of 454 free otoliths and 54 undigested specimens representing a minimum of 281 fish, consisting of nine species in seven families, were recovered from the copious semidigested fish remains found in 52 of the stomachs. Clupea harengus (herring), Gadus morhua (cod), and Scomber scombrus (mackerel) otoliths accounted for more than 78% of the total. Osmerus mordax (smelt), Pollachius virens (pollock), Merluccius bilinearis (silver hake), Sebastes marinus (redfish), and Macrozoarces americanus (ocean pout) otoliths were also identified. Squid (Illex sp.), hagfish (Myxine glutinosa), and polychaetes (Nereis sp.) were identified in a few stomachs. Fifteen of the stomachs examined were empty or contained only fluid. Examination of the stomachs of the 16 smallest animals indicated that weaning occurred at body lengths of 100–104 cm.

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

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (9) ◽  
pp. 2140-2146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheri A. Recchia ◽  
Andrew J. Read
Keyword(s):  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Caloric Intake ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Clupea Harengus ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Total Caloric Intake

We examined contents from stomachs of 127 harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) caught in groundfish gill nets in the western Bay of Fundy during June to September, 1985–1987. Relative importance of prey species was assessed using both numerical and caloric measures. 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 important, 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 species 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.

scholarly journals Phthalate metabolites in harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from Norwegian coastal waters

2020 ◽  
Vol 137 ◽  
pp. 105525 ◽  
Author(s):  
May Britt Rian ◽  
Kristine Vike-Jonas ◽  
Susana Villa Gonzalez ◽  
Tomasz Maciej Ciesielski ◽  
Vishwesh Venkatraman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Phthalate Metabolites ◽  
Harbor Porpoises

Mitigation of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) by-catch in the gillnet fishery in the lower Bay of Fundy

1999 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward A Trippel ◽  
Michael B Strong ◽  
John M Terhune ◽  
Jeremy D Conway
Keyword(s):  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Harbour Porpoise ◽  
Clupea Harengus ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
By Catch ◽  
Catch Rates ◽  
Wind Sea

Demersal gill nets equipped with acoustic alarms reduced harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) by-catch rates by 77% over those without alarms in the Swallowtail area of the lower Bay of Fundy during field testing in August 1996 (68% reduction) and 1997 (85% reduction) (both years combined, three harbour porpoises in 249 alarmed nets versus 14 harbour porpoises in 267 nonalarmed nets). The alarms spaced 100 m apart along the net floatline produced a 0.3-s pulse at 10-12 kHz every 4 s at a level of 133-145 dB re 1 µPa at 1 m. In conditions of no rain and low wind (Sea State 0-2) the alarms were presumed to be clearly audible to harbour porpoises at ranges of 0.1-0.6 km. Catch rates of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), and pollock (Pollachius virens) were not significantly different in alarmed and nonalarmed nets (except in one season when pollock were caught in lower numbers in alarmed nets). Harbour porpoise by-catch and herring movements may be linked. During years of low herring abundance, we also observed low harbour porpoise entanglement rates.

Lungworms (Metastrongyloidea: Pseudaliidae) of harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena (L. 1758)

1975 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 713-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. Arnold ◽  
D. E. Gaskin
Keyword(s):  
Host Record ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Harbor Porpoise ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
New Host ◽  
Grampus Griseus ◽  
New Host Record ◽  
Consistent Treatment ◽  
First Time ◽  
Harbor Porpoises

Lungworms were collected from 60 harbor porpoises shot at sea during May to August of 1970 and 1971 in the Bay of Fundy. These have been compared with related species from other odontocetes in order to evaluate the literature on pseudaliids and provide a consistent treatment of the family. This study also gives data on the occurrence of lungworms in odontocetes from Canadian waters. Keys to genera and selected species of pseudaliids in cetaceans are included.The following are redescribed: Pseudalius inflexus (Rudolphi 1808), Stenurus minor (Kuhn 1829), Torynurus convolutus (Kuhn 1829), Halocercus invaginatus (Quekett 1841), and H. taurica Delyamure, in Skrjabin 1942 from harbor porpoise, Phocoena phocoena, collected in eastern Canada; Stenurus globicephalae Baylis and Daubney 1925 from Globicephala melaena, G. macrorhyncha, and Grampus griseus (new host record); Stenurus arctomarinus Delyamure and Kleinenberg 1958 and Pharurus pallasii (van Beneden 1870) n. comb, from Delphinapteras leucas; Torynurus dalli (Yamaguti 1951) from Phocoenoides dalli; and Pharurus alatus (Leuck-art 1848) from Monodon monoceros. Pseudalius inflexus, H. taurica, and S. arctomarinus are reported for the first time from North American hosts; S. globicephalae, P. pallasii, P. alatus, and all the pseudaliids from Phocoena phocoena are reported from new host localities.Torynurus alatus is considered a synonym of Pharurus alatus. Stenurus arcticus (including previously proposed synonyms Strongylus arcticus, Pseudalius arcticus) is considered a synonym of Pharurus pallasii.Halocercus ponticus Delyamure 1946 is considered synonymous with H. invaginatus.

Effects of Formaldehyde on Salt Extractable Proteins of Gadoid Muscle

1973 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 1205-1213 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. H. Castell ◽  
B. Smith ◽  
W. J. Dyer
Keyword(s):  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Frozen Storage ◽  
Active Protein ◽  
Muscle Enzyme ◽  
Trimethylamine Oxide ◽  
Extractable Protein ◽  
Silver Hake ◽  
Merluccius Bilinearis ◽  
Fish Proteins

Addition of formaldehyde to fresh cod muscle, to give concentrations of 10 to 200 ppm, brought about marked decreases in the extractable protein content during holding periods of 24 hr or less at 0 C. Similar levels of formaldehyde, produced during frozen storage of gadoid (Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, pollock, Pollachius virens, cusk, Brosme brosme, and silver hake, Merluccius bilinearis), fillets at −5 C, brought about similar reductions in the extractable proteins. Comparative tests showed that, in the concentrations normally encountered in deteriorating frozen gadoid fillets, formaldehyde was a much more active protein-insolubilizing agent than free fatty acid. It is evident that in these protein changes more than one mechanism is involved. Observed species-differences in the extent to which fish proteins became insolubilized during storage appeared to be related to presence or absence of these different mechanisms. The more rapid and more extensive denaturation of most gadoid fillets in frozen storage than of fillets of nongadoid species appears to be directly related to the presence of muscle enzyme of the former group that is capable of producing formaldehyde from trimethylamine oxide, which is absent in the muscle of the nongadoid species so far tested.

Summer Diet of the Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the Estuary and the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence

1994 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 172-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre-Michel Fontaine ◽  
Mike O. Hammill ◽  
Cyrille Barrette ◽  
Michael C. Kingsley
Keyword(s):  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Harbour Porpoise ◽  
Clupea Harengus ◽  
Frequency Of Occurrence ◽  
Atlantic Herring ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Mallotus Villosus ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Caloric Value ◽  
Capelin Mallotus Villosus

Stomach contents (n = 138) were examined in harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) caught incidently by commercial fishermen in the estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence; 111 stomachs contained food. A total of 4423 otoliths and 11 upper beaks were collected belonging to nine species of fishes and one species of squid. Capelin (Mallotus villosus), Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), and redfish (Sebastes marinus) were the three most important species in the diet by frequency of occurrence (83, 8, and 4.5%, respectively) and percent occurrence in the stomachs (52, 49, and 8.5%). Capelin and herring also made the greatest mass and caloric contribution to the diet of porpoise (>80%). The estimated mean mass and caloric value of the stomach contents of a nonlactating adults were 958 g and 7007 kJ, respectively.

scholarly journals Reactions of harbor porpoises Phocoena phocoena and herring Clupea harengus to acoustic alarms

2001 ◽  
Vol 211 ◽  
pp. 255-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
BM Culik ◽  
S Koschinski ◽  
N Tregenza ◽  
GM Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Clupea Harengus ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Harbor Porpoises

Comparison of Changes in Trimethylamine, Dimethylamine, and Extractable Protein in Iced and Frozen Gadoid Fillets

1973 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 1246-1248 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. H. Castell ◽  
W. E. Neal ◽  
J. Dale
Keyword(s):  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
The Other ◽  
Protein Nitrogen ◽  
Extractable Protein ◽  
Frozen Fish ◽  
Silver Hake ◽  
Merluccius Bilinearis

When fillets of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), pollock (Pollachius virens), cusk (Brosme brosme), and silver hake (Merluccius bilinearis) were iced and the opposite fillets frozen, large amounts of trimethylamine were rapidly produced in the iced fish but none was formed in the frozen fish within 60 days. Hake produced large, similar amounts of dimethylamine (DMA) in iced and frozen fillets. The other three species produced more DMA in the frozen than in the iced fillets, but always much less than in the hake. In both frozen and iced fish the production of DMA was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in extractable protein nitrogen.

Diet of harp seals (Phoca groenlandica) in nearshore waters of the northwest Atlantic during 1990 – 1993

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (10) ◽  
pp. 1805-1818 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W. Lawson ◽  
Garry B. Stenson ◽  
Dave G. McKinnon
Keyword(s):  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Clupea Harengus ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Northwest Atlantic ◽  
Arctic Cod ◽  
Diet Diversity ◽  
Phoca Groenlandica ◽  
Capelin Mallotus Villosus

The nearshore diet of northwest Atlantic harp seals (Phoca groenlandica) was determined by reconstructing the contents of 1167 prey-containing stomachs (78.3% of 1490) collected from 1990 to 1993. Although harp seals consumed at least 62 species, 6 accounted for most of the mass consumed and their relative importance varied by area. Based on percent wet mass, sculpins (Cottidae) and Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) were the main components of the diet of older seals (> 1 year old) off Labrador, whereas Arctic cod and Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) were the main prey of seals from northeastern Newfoundland. A more diverse diet was observed in seals taken off the west coast of Newfoundland, where capelin (Mallotus villosus), herring, Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), redfish (Sebastes spp.), and Arctic cod were the main species. Redfish and Atlantic cod were important to seals along the south coast of Newfoundland. Eighty percent of fish consumed were less than 18 cm long, smaller than those taken by commercial fisheries. Pups (less than 1 year old) consumed fewer and smaller prey of a less varied assortment. Annual and seasonal variation in the diets was observed in the collection from northeastern Newfoundland. Arctic cod was the major prey consumed throughout the year by seals of all ages, although the relative importance of herring, capelin, and squid (Teuthoidea) increased during the summer. Invertebrates and capelin made up a greater proportion of the diet in 1992, owing to a decline in consumption of Arctic cod. This finding was associated with a decrease in the mass of stomach contents. Diet diversity did not change significantly over the study period.

scholarly journals A note on stomach contents of minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in Icelandic waters

2000 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jóhann Sigurjónsson ◽  
Anton Galan ◽  
Gísli A Víkingsson
Keyword(s):  
Food Habits ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Clupea Harengus ◽  
Balaenoptera Acutorostrata ◽  
Minke Whales ◽  
Capelin Mallotus Villosus ◽  
Available Information ◽  
Icelandic Waters

There is limited available information on food habits of minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in coastal Iceland. Sixty-eight minke whales were examined for stomach contents; 51.5% contained fish only, 22.1 % krill (Euphausiacea) only, 25.0% fish and krill together, and one animal (l.5%) had no food remains in the stomach. The fish species identified were capelin (Mallotus villosus), sandeel (Ammodytidae), cod (Gadus morhua) and herring (Clupea harengus). Two species of krill were identified; Thysanoessa raschii and Meganyctiphanes norvegica. Sandeel was the dominant prey species in the western and southwestern areas, while capelin and krill were more frequently found in animals sampled in North Iceland.

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