Epibenthic invertebrate predation of Pacific Herring, Clupea pallasi, spawn in British Columbia

Haegele, C. W. 1993.Epibenthic invertebrate predation of Pacific Herring, Clupea pallasi, spawn in British Columbia.Canadian Field-Naturalist 107(1): 83-91.The extent of predation of Pacific Herring (Clupea pallasi) eggs by epibenthic invertebrates was estimated.In selected field locations invertebrates were enumerated and their guts were sampled.In the laboratory daily consumption rates were estimated.Egg loss attributable to invertebrate predation averaged 8.0% at 14 sites, but varied from 1% to 30% between sites.It was estimated that 3.7% of total eggs were eaten.Crabs were the major invertebrate predator, accounting for 60% of this egg loss.