DIET OF ROUND SCAD (DECAPTERUS-PUNCTATUS) ON A NATURAL AND AN ARTIFICIAL REEF IN ONSLOW BAY, NORTH-CAROLINA

Round scad (Decapterus punctatus) were collected (N = 185) from reefs located 8 km off the southeastern coast of North Carolina in innershel f waters. The objectives of this study were to compare the diet of D. punctatus from an artificial and a natural reef in Onslow Bay, North C arolina and to determine if demersal zooplankton comprise a significan t portion of their total diet. Of the 180 fish containing food, holozo oplankton, not demersal zooplankton was the major prey group. Demersal zooplankton and benthic prey items were present in small numbers and volumes. Sorensen's index of community similarity showed prey items we re 81% similar between fish collected from the artificial and natural reefs.