• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.172-178
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• 2022

To investigate the feeding habits and trophic level of the blackthroat seaperch, Doederleinia berycoides in the South Sea of Korea, fish samples were collected by a bottom trawl net from fisheries resources survey vessels of NIFS in February, May, August and November 2021. The total length (TL) of these specimens was from 3.3 to 33.1 cm. D. berycoides fed majorly on Teleostei (especially Engraulis japonicus) based on index of relative importance (%IRI=64.4%). D. berycoides underwent an ontogenetic dietary shift. Smaller individuals (<10.0 cm TL) fed mainly on amphipods. The proportion of amphipods decreased as body size increased, whereas the consumption of Teleostei increased gradually. Examination of the feeding habits according to ontogentic feeding patterns in the diets of D. berycoides revealed that the mean weight of prey (mW/ST) continuously increased, while mean number of prey (mN/ST) decreased and then increased. The estimated average trophic level of the D. berycoides was 3.62±0.64, ranging from 3.31±0.52 to 3.79±0.70.