720 



Fishery Bulletin 98(4) 



I Amphipod 

 IH Shrimp 

 Fish 



<100 



100-124 



125-149 



150-201 



Length groups (TL mm) 



Figure 9 



Percent frequency of three of the most important prey groups by the total- 

 length groups of Gymnocanthus pistilliger for 1997. (;7=20, 29, 28, and 16 for 

 each length group, respectively). 



and relative abundance. Pacific cod from 

 Bristol Bay have been found to occasion- 

 ally feed on G. pistilliger. ' Bearded seals, 

 Erignathus bai'batus, whose distribution 

 overlaps with G. pistilliger. consume scul- 

 pin species (>809; by volume) (Lowry et 

 al., 1980) and may exploit G. pistilliger. 

 However, many feeding studies on seals 

 do not document which species of scul- 

 pins were found as prey items. 



Gymnocanthus pistilliger is an abun- 

 dant, short-lived cottid species occurring 

 in shallow waters of the Bristol Bay area. 

 Owing to its great abundance, it may 

 make up an important part of the bio- 

 mass resource in its range. There are 

 distinct biological differences, such as 

 male-to-female ratios with depth, maxi- 



' Buckley, T. 1998. Personal commun. Alas- 

 ka Fisheries Science Center, National Marine 

 P'ishorics Service. NOAA, 7600 Sand Point 

 Wav N.E., Seattle. WA 981 15. 



