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Fishery Bulletin 113(3) 
Map of the sampling area of the Coastal Survey of the Southeastern 
Monitoring and Assessment Program — South Atlantic off the south- 
eastern coastline of the United States, extending from Cape Canav- 
eral, Florida, to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The sampling area 
is divided into 6 regions: Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), South Carolina 
(SC), Long Bay (LB), Onslow Bay (OB), and Raleigh Bay (RB). Black 
circles indicate locations where 3 sciaenid fishes — weakfish (Cy- 
noscion regalis ), southern kingfish (Menticirrhus americanus), and At- 
lantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus ) — were collected from 2008 
through 2010 for analysis of their stomach contents. 
divided further into strata based on latitude (-0.28° 
latitude; 2-5 strata per region). The Coastal Survey 
includes 3 cruises conducted each year during 3 sea- 
sons: spring (April-May), summer (July-August), and 
fall (September-November). Specimens retained for 
life history research (including diet analysis) were 
selected from the total catches at a rate of 2 repre- 
sentatives per size class (based on TL in centimeters) 
per stratum per season. Fish were kept on ice on deck 
until sample processing began. Total length (in milli- 
meters), SL (in millimeters) and total body weight (in 
grams) were measured, and otoliths and gonads were 
extracted. Stomachs, excluding the intes- 
tinal tract, were removed from selected 
specimens, wrapped in cheesecloth and 
labeled. Stomachs were stored in 10% 
neutral buffered formalin for a minimum 
of 14 days, after which they were rinsed 
with room temperature tap water several 
times and stored in 70% ethanol. 
Laboratory processing 
Extraneous tissue was removed from the 
stomach, the stomach was blotted to re- 
move excess liquid and emptied, and a 
wet weight of the contents was recorded 
to the nearest 0.001 g. Each prey item 
was identified to the lowest possible taxon 
that could be collapsed into 7 course prey 
categories: bony fishes, decapod crusta- 
ceans, echinoderms, mollusks, nondeca- 
pod crustaceans, polychaetes, and other 
(composed of unidentified animal tissue 
and rarely seen miscellaneous taxa). 
Identifications were made from voucher 
specimens, with staff assistance from the 
Southeastern Regional Taxonomic Center, 
and according to various references (e.g., 
Baremore and Bethea 5 ). Small parts were 
sorted and counted to estimate numbers 
of individuals whenever possible. When 
prey were highly digested, key body parts, 
such as eyes, telsons, or otoliths, were 
used to make counts. When the number 
of individuals could not be determined 
(e.g., from unidentified animal tissue), a 
conservative count of one individual was 
assigned. Prey were collectively weighed 
by taxon to the nearest 0.001 g. 
Data analysis 
before any analyses, prey items that could 
not be identified and stomach contents 
that were incidentally ingested (e.g., sand 
and gravel) were removed from the data 
set. To provide the most conservative es- 
timate of overlap in diet, only stomachs 
from fish collected in trawl hauls that 
captured all 3 species were included in analyses. Co- 
occurrence provides the most likely possibility that 
shared resources were available to each species, re- 
gardless of whether they used them. Diet contents were 
grouped into the 7 prey categories, initially to reduce 
the number of zero observations in the data set. Data 
5 Baremore, I. E., and D. M. Bethea. 2011. A guide to oto- 
liths from fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. Panama City Labo- 
ratory, NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Panama 
City, FL. Last modified 29 August 2011. [Available at web- 
site.] 
