Comparative studies on herring and sprat feeding in the Southern Baltic within 1978-1982

The author compares herring and sprat feeding in the Southern Baltic within 1978-1982. Food composition, feeding intensity as well as diet overlap and food diversity of the two fish species are presented, seasonal variability being taken into account. Comparisons are made of the two species caught jointly and separately. In both groups individual comparisons are made for feeding of fish of differing [5.5-35.0 cm long herring, 5.5-15.0 cm sprat) and equal (10.5-15.0 cm long herring and sprat) size. In the four data sets thus obtained, differences are found to exist between the two species in terms of their food composition, feeding intensity, diet overlap, and food diversity.;