Stomach Contents of the Southern Rough Shrimp Trachysalambria curvirostris (Stimpson) in the Coastal Area of Yeosu, Korea

The southern rough shrimp Trachysalambria curvirostris (Stimpson) was monthly sampled from the coastal area of Yeosu, Korea from June 2000 to May 2001 and its stomach contents were investigated. Mysids and amphipods were the most dominant prey, comprising >40% of the diet in both % occurrence and % abundance. In particular, mysids were most important food without regard to seasons, size classes, or sexes. The abundance and occurrence composition of food items showed a seasonal fluctuation: mysids and amphipods were the predominant prey items in spring (33.8%), summer (41.1%), autumn (43.9%), and winter (49.2%). For small-sized shrimps (＞25 mm CL), mysids and amphipods consist of more than 45% of its food in both % abundance and % occurrence. For large-sized shrimps (>25 mm CL), these were clearly dominant. The quantities and items of food did not differ in both genders, which mainly fed on mysids and amphipods. The trophic diversity and equality of diet varied with seasons and size classes. The diet diversity for smaller shrimps was highest in spring, while that for the larger shrimp lowest in winter. Also, the mandibular structure of Trachysalambria curvirostris indicates that the species is carnivorous.