Willis et al.: Feeding behavior of 3 sciaenids along the southeastern United States 
295 
Tabie 2 
Frequency of prey occurrence (%F), diet composition by number (%N), diet composition by weight (%W), and index of relative 
importance expressed as a percent (IRI) of prey items found in stomachs of 3 predator species — weakfish (Cynoscion regalis ), 
southern kingfish (Menticirrhus americanus), and Atlantic croaker ( Micropogonias undulatus ) — sampled off the Atlantic 
coast of the southeastern United States from 2008 through 2010. 
Weakfish 
Southern kingfish 
Atlantic croaker 
%F 
%N 
%W 
IRI 
%F 
%N 
%W 
IRI 
%F 
%N 
%W 
IRI 
Bony fishes 
62.7 
7.4 
70.27 
4869.91 
24.5 
7.6 
21.87 
722.02 
25.6 
7.6 
21 
732.17 
Actinopterygii 
39.13 
5.1 
8.98 
550.89 
20.1 
6.78 
9.82 
333.68 
18.8 
5.19 
3.62 
165.74 
Anchoa hepsetus 
10.51 
0.96 
30.1 
326.35 
0.25 
0.09 
0.38 
0.12 
1.42 
0.21 
8.99 
13.11 
Anchoa mitchilli 
4.35 
0.24 
5.81 
26.32 
0.25 
0.03 
0.3 
0.08 
1.42 
0.46 
2.01 
3.52 
Anchoa spp. 
4.35 
0.36 
3.85 
18.3 
1.23 
0.3 
1.19 
1.82 
2.85 
0.88 
4.37 
14.96 
Centropristis striata 
1.45 
0.08 
2.73 
4.07 
Clupeiformes 
0.36 
0.02 
0.24 
0.1 
Cynoscion nothus 
1.45 
0.1 
2.54 
3.82 
0.28 
0.04 
0.79 
0.24 
Cynoscion spp. 
2.17 
0.16 
1.86 
4.39 
0.49 
0.06 
0.35 
0.2 
1.14 
0.17 
0.81 
1.11 
Engraulidae 
0.72 
0.04 
<.01 
0.03 
0.49 
0.06 
0.06 
0.06 
0.57 
0.25 
0.21 
0.26 
Harengula jaguana 
0.36 
0.02 
0.23 
0.09 
Larimus fasciatus 
0.36 
0.02 
<.01 
0.01 
Leiostomus xanthurus 
2.54 
0.18 
9.17 
23.72 
0.25 
0.03 
0.27 
0.07 
Ophichthidae 
0.25 
0.03 
0.05 
0.02 
Mugil ceplialus 
0.36 
0.02 
4.17 
1.52 
Prionotus spp. 
0.36 
0.02 
<.01 
0.01 
0.25 
0.03 
4.28 
1.06 
Selene setapinnis 
0.25 
0.03 
0.79 
0.2 
Sciaenidae 
0.36 
0.02 
0.01 
0.01 
0.85 
0.38 
0.2 
0.49 
Stellifer lanceolatus 
1.09 
0.06 
0.59 
0.7 
0.49 
0.06 
0.21 
0.13 
Symphurus plagiusa 
0.25 
0.03 
3.49 
0.86 
Syngnathus spp. 
0.49 
0.06 
0.68 
0.36 
Decapod crustaceans 
54 
23.1 
20.52 
2355.48 
67.9 
30.9 
33.97 
4404.99 
45.3 
18.8 
21.53 
1826.77 
Acetes americanus 
carolinae 
30.43 
18.04 
5.64 
720.7 
5.39 
4.8 
1.38 
33.28 
8.55 
7.37 
3.15 
89.89 
Albunea catherinae 
0.49 
0.06 
0.76 
0.4 
0.28 
0.04 
0.26 
0.09 
Albuneidae 
0.25 
0.03 
0.08 
0.03 
0.57 
0.08 
0.89 
0.56 
Axiidae 
0.28 
0.04 
0.53 
0.16 
Brachyura 
9.78 
0.98 
0.06 
10.22 
15.2 
2.37 
5.21 
115.13 
7.69 
1.47 
0.84 
17.72 
Callianassidae 
0.85 
0.21 
0.09 
0.25 
Decapoda 
1.45 
0.1 
0.07 
0.24 
4.9 
0.98 
0.57 
7.59 
2.85 
0.71 
0.1 
2.33 
Heterocrypta granulata 
0.25 
0.03 
0.04 
0.02 
0.28 
0.04 
0.45 
0.14 
Latreutes parvulus 
0.74 
0.09 
0.01 
0.07 
1.42 
0.29 
0.06 
0.5 
Leptochela sp. 
5.8 
0.64 
0.21 
4.93 
12.5 
3.26 
0.83 
51.11 
7.41 
1.38 
0.38 
13.07 
Leucosiidae 
0.74 
0.09 
0.25 
0.25 
Lucifer faxoni 
2.17 
0.12 
0.01 
0.28 
0.74 
0.09 
<.01 
0.07 
1.71 
0.25 
0.01 
0.45 
Ogyrides sp. 
2.17 
0.24 
0.12 
0.77 
15.93 
4.62 
1.33 
94.76 
8.26 
1.63 
1.11 
22.62 
Paguroidea 
3.43 
0.44 
2.52 
10.19 
3.7 
0.59 
1.58 
8.04 
Palaemonidae 
0.98 
0.12 
0.01 
0.12 
0.85 
0.13 
0.01 
0.12 
Panopeidae 
1.72 
0.3 
2.49 
4.78 
1.42 
0.21 
1.59 
2.56 
Pelia mutica 
0.36 
0.02 
0 
0.01 
Penaeidae 
1.81 
0.12 
0.18 
0.54 
17.16 
5.15 
3.07 
141.1 
4.27 
0.67 
4.41 
21.7 
Pinnotheridae 
3.26 
0.26 
0.1 
1.16 
9.07 
1.69 
1.34 
27.46 
4.27 
1.05 
0.5 
6.61 
Porcellanidae 
1.81 
0.1 
0.01 
0.19 
0.49 
0.12 
0.6 
0.35 
Portunidae 
4.35 
0.48 
0.1 
2.54 
7.84 
1.39 
5.37 
53.06 
0.28 
0.13 
0.28 
0.12 
Rimapenaeus 
constrictus 
11.23 
1.57 
5.6 
80.52 
14.71 
5.21 
7.6 
188.46 
5.98 
2.13 
1.93 
24.32 
Sicyonia laevigata 
0.25 
0.03 
<.01 
0.01 
Thalassinidea 
2.17 
0.36 
5.87 
13.54 
0.49 
0.06 
0.49 
0.27 
1.42 
0.25 
1.93 
3.11 
Xanthoidea 
0.36 
0.02 
<.01 
0.01 
0.25 
0.03 
0.02 
0.01 
0.85 
0.13 
1.42 
1.33 
Xiphopenaeus kroyeri 
0.36 
0.06 
2.57 
0.95 
Table continued 
