Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Importance Of Zooplankton In The Diets Of Blue Runner (Caranx Crysos) Near Offshore Petroleum Platforms In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Sean Francis Keenan

LSU Master's Theses

Blue runner (Caranx crysos), common around offshore petroleum platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, were found to forage extensively on meso- and macro-zooplankton during the summer months. Larval decapods and stomatopods, hyperiid amphipods, pteropods, and larval and juvenile fishes were common components of their diet. Feeding periodicity results suggest that blue runner around platforms were capable of feeding throughout the night at the same intensity as the day. Size selectivity indicated that larger prey, such as fish were consumed during the night and smaller decapod crustaceans were consumed during the day. Blue runner collected from open waters away from platforms …