Lowry et al : Food habits of Zaiophus californianus at San Clemente Island, California 



517 



LU 



o 



LU 

 Q. 



1981 1982 



1981 : 1982 



El Nino 

 1983 198^ 



' 1983 ' 19841 



 El Nino 



1985 



1986 



S ^ d, ' I « ^ d, 



1985 1986 



Figure 7 



Seasonal percent minimum number (PMN) of 8 prey 

 taxa found in 1304 California sea lion scats, 

 1981-86. No samples were collected in winter 1986. 

 PMN could not be determined from fragments of 

 pelagic red crab. 



Analyses of the three-season-five-year and four- 

 season-four-year data sets indicated significant dif- 

 ferences (P<0.05) in the occurrence of some, but not 

 all, of the nine prey tested. Variances of occurrence 

 were significantly different for all nine prey (Levene's 

 test, P<0.05). The three-season-five-year data set 

 showed 21 significant differences in year, season, or 

 season-year interactions, and the four-season-four-year 

 data set showed 14 significant differences in year, 

 season, or season-year interactions. Because the three- 



season-five-year data set included more of the post-El 

 Nino period, results from that data set were used to 

 interpret seasonal and yearly changes in prey items. 

 Northern anchovy, jack mackerel. Pacific whiting, and 

 octopus showed significant seasonal, yearly, and 

 season-year interaction differences (P<0.01). Pelagic 

 red crab, rockfish, market squid, and blacksmith 

 showed only significant yearly and season-year interac- 

 tions differences (P<0.01). Pacific mackerel had a 

 significant difference only among years (P<0.01). 



