Analysis for Guild paper

Rountree, R.A., W.L. Michaels, and N.J. McHugh. Characterization of fish guilds on the Northwest Atlantic shelf based on diet similarity.

Food habits data collected on Northeast Fisheries Science Center groundfish surveys between Nova Scotia and Cape Fear from 1981-1990 were analyzed to categorize abundant fish species into feeding guilds in five broad geographic areas: Scotian shelf, Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, Southern New England, Mid Atlantic Bight (there was insufficient data from the South Atlantic Bight). Most species clustered into two or more distinct intra-specific groups based on size, supporting the concept of an "ecological" or "functional" species. Distinct species guilds based on diet similarity were found in all geographic regions. Many species were found to switch guilds during ontogeny and between seasons, often in conjunction with habitat shifts.
[Click on thumbnails to view full size figures]

Figure 1. Five geographic areas studied.

Figure 2. Scotian Shelf, Fall 1981-90.

Figure 3. Gulf of Maine, Fall 1981-90.

Figure 4. Georges Bank, Fall 1981-90.

Figure 5. Southern New England, Fall 1981-90.

Figure 6. Mid-Atlantic Bight, Fall 1981-90.

Unfortunately, this study has been place on the way back burner for now.

This page was last modified on July 20, 2001