The relationship between stomach contents and maturity state for major northwest Atlantic fishes: new paradigms?

Abstract

Iteroparous species examined from the northwest Atlantic demonstrated distinct relationships between feeding and reproduction. Two species showed an increase in feeding during the developing, ripe and running stages of reproduction, indicative of the ramper pattern. Four species showed an increase in feeding after spawning in the spent or resting stage of reproduction, indicative of the rester pattern. Two species exhibited no distinct pattern. Evidence from other species confirms these major patterns. This information may be useful to determine the effectiveness of different management measures, particularly in relation to feeding or spawning aggregations. There are two major feeding‐reproductive patterns for fishes along a continuum of possibilities.