Stillwell, C.E. and Kohler, N.E. (1985) Food and feeding ecology of the sowrdfish Xiphias gladius in the western North Atlantic Ocean with estimates of daily ration. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 22 . pp. 239-247. DOI 10.3354/MEPS022239.

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Abstract

Analysis of stomach contents and predator-prey relations of 168 swordfish from the western North Atlantic Ocean is presented. The predominant food of swordfish is squid (82% by frequency of occurence) followed by fish (53%) consisting primarily of gladis, scombrids, butterfish, bluefish, and sand lance. Average food volume in stomach is 1% of average body weight. Estimates of daily ration range from 0.94% to 1,6% of avergae body weight, with yearly consumption ranging from 3.4 to 5.8 times average body weight per year. The prey biomass consumed by the sowrdfish population in the Georges Bank area is estimated to range from 2,100 to 11,000 mt over a residency time of 5 mo.

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