A MULTIVARIATE-ANALYSIS OF FOOD AND FEEDING TRENDS AMONG GREENLAND HALIBUT (REINHARDTIUS HIPPOGLOSSOIDES) SAMPLED IN DAVIS STRAIT, DURING 1986

Pelagic invertebrates [northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis), Cephalopod a, Mysidacea, Amphipoda and Euphausiacea] and fish [redfish (Sebastes mentella), R. hippoglossoides and Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida)] were the most important food items found in 4295 Greenland halibut (R. hipp oglossoides) stomachs collected from Davis Strait [Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Subareas 0 and 1], during 1986. Ordinati on methods indicated that predator size and capture depth accounted fo r 85.2% of the variation in diet, while classification methods were us ed to illustrate these relationships. Additionally, the study extended into locations not previously sampled, therefore, knowledge was expan ded upon pertaining to the distribution ranges of important prey. (C) 1997 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.