Feeding ecology of Antarctic icefishes (family Channichthyidae): A review

doi:10.13679/j.jdyj.20180040

Abstract

Abstract:

The Antarctic icefishes (family Channichthyidae) are among the dominant species in the Southern Ocean. This group plays a significant role in material circulation and energy flow in the marine ecosystems of the Southern Ocean, and some species are main targets of commercial fishing in the area. Currently, channichthyids have a high commercial value, especially the mackerel icefish Champsocephalus gunnari, spiny icefish Chaenodraco wilsoni, and South Georgia icefish Pseudochaenichthys georgianus, and some have been studied widely. Most studies of channichthyids have focused on age, growth and distribution, and scarce information has been collected on their trophodynamics; furthermore, most research has concerned only commercial species, which hampers our comprehensive understanding of the role of icefishes in the Southern Ocean ecosystem. The present work reviews the available literature on the feeding mechanisms, food composition, and feeding habits of channichthyids, and the prospects for future research. The findings of this review provide basic information useful for regional and international researchers to carry out related research, hopefully motivating further studies on the feeding ecology of channichthyids.

Key words: Channichthyidae, icefish, Antarctic, feeding, diet

Yang Qingyuan, Zhu Guoping. Feeding ecology of Antarctic icefishes (family Channichthyidae): A review[J]. , 2019, 31(2): 220-227.

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