Do harp seals Phoca groenlandica exhibit particular prey preferences?
U. Lindstrøm, A. Harbitz, T. Haug and K. T. Nilssen Norwegian Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture N-9005, Tromsø Norway Correspondence to Tore Haug: tel: +47 77 629220; fax: +47 77 629100; e-mail: toreh{at}fiskforsk.norut.no’ + u + ‘@’ + d + ”//–> Feeding ecology studies of harp seals Phoca groenlandica were carried out in the south-eastern Barents Sea in February 1993, and in the north-eastern Barents Sea in October 1995. Stomach/intestine contents were obtained from 76 and 18 harp seals in 1993 and 1995, respectively. In both years, acoustic surveys aimed to estimate the abundance of potential prey items were conducted concurrently with sealing activities. The abundance of prey differed substantially between the areas. To the west of the southernmost area (CKK), herring Clupea harengus was by far the most abundant prey item, while polar cod Boreogadus saida predominated to the east (Pechora). In the northern area crustaceans, Thysanoessa sp. and Parathemisto libellula, were by f
