The Bottom Fauna and the Food of Flatfish off the Cumberland Coast

CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . 182 METHODS . . . . . . . .. 183 THE BOTTOM DEPOSITS . . . . . . . . . 183 HYDROGRAPHY . . . . . . .. 184 THE BOTTOM FAUNA . . . . . . . 185 (a) The fauna of the rough ground . . . .185 (b) The fine sand ground . . . . . . . 185 (c) The muddy sand ground . . . . . . . 185 (d) The mud ground . . . . . . . . 187 THE FOOD OF FLATFISH . . . . . . . . 190 (a) Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) . . . . . . 190 (b) Dabs (Limanda limanda) . . . . . . . 192 (c) Soles (Solea vulgaris) . . . . . . . . 192 DISCUSSION . . . . . . . . . . . 192 (a) Faunal results . . . . . . . . . 192 (b) Analyses of gut contents . . . . . . . 197 (c) Feeding habits of the fish . . . . . . . 197 (d) Availability and selection of food . . . . 200 SUMMARY . . . . . . . .. 204 REFERENCES . 204