Mesopelagic fish gut content data from the Kerguelen Axis ecosystem study (AAS_4344): These data are based on samples collected as part of the Kerguelen Axis marine ecosystem study (AAS_4344), chief scientist Andrew Constable. This research was supported by the Australian government under the (i) Cooperative Research Centre Program through the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre (ACE CRC), (ii) Australian Antarctic Science Program (Projects 4343, 4344, 4347 and 4366), and (iii) Australian Research Council’s Special Research Initiative for Antarctic Gateway Partnership (Project ID SR140300001). The preferred citation is: Riaz, J., Walters, A., Trebilco, R., Bestley, S., Lea, M-A. (2019) Stomach content analysis of mesopelagic fish from the southern Kerguelen Axis. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography. Samples for gut content analysis were collected on board the R.S.V Aurora Australis during the austral summer of 2016 (22 January-17 February) during the Kerguelen Axis marine ecosystem survey (AAS_4344). Analyses focused on four of the most common and widespread Southern Ocean mesopelagic fish species: three myctophids (Electrona antarctica, Gymnoscopelus braueri, Krefftichthys anderssoni), and one bathylagid (Bathylagus antarcticus). Species were sampled across a broad range of size classes to investigate the influence of predator size on predator and prey size relationships. Fish were collected from six sampling stations along the major south-to-north transect of the Kerguelen Axis. Three sampling sites were located in subpolar waters south of the Southern Boundary (SB) of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) over the Princess Elizabeth Trough. The other three sampling sites were located north of the Southern Antarctic Circumpolar Circulation Front (SACCF) over the Banzare Bank on the southern Kerguelen Plateau.The contribution and relative importance of prey taxa to stomach contents was quantified with four traditional metrics of dietary composition (Hyslop 1980). These were calculated for each fish species separately at northern and southern sampling stations, and across species within all stations. Hyslop, E. J. (1980) Stomach contents analysis-a review of methods and their application. Journal of Fish Biology 17:411.

Metadata record for data from ASAC Project 2388 See the link below for public details on this project. ---- Public Summary from Project ---- The HIMI Ecosystem Project is aimed at examining key predators based on Heard Island, including albatross, penguins and seals, and their interactions with prey, the ocean and benthic environment and commercial fisheries. Work will include examining the diet of the animals, tracking them to determine where they feed, and examining prey available in the feeding areas. Scientists from a variety of backgrounds including bird and mammal biologists, marine biologists, oceanographers and marine geologists will be involved. These data were collected on Aurora Australis voyage 4 2004 ('HIPPIES'). The data are stored in a Microsoft Access 97 file. The data includes sampling information for trawls using an IYGPT (International Young Gadoid Pelagic Trawl) Net and RMT 8 (8 square meter Rectangular Midwater Trawl) Nets. Sampling data, including location and time, are stored in the 'Hauls' table. Data from the analysis of the contents of each trawl, including species identifications, mass and counts of each taxon of mesopelagic fish and zooplankton are stored in the 'Bycatch' table. Weights, lengths and other biological data collected from individual mesopelagic fish are stored in the 'Fish Data' table. On opening the file the Haul form launches automatically giving access to the data. The fields in this dataset are: Latitude Longitude Species Date Haul Number Time Depth (m) Tow distance Wire out Tow Speed (knots) Headline height (m) Headline width (m) Gear Comments Fishing Ground Fishery Traps Line Hooks Magazines Fish length Otoliths Scale sample Fish Weight Stomach Gonads Stomach contents