Náttúrufræðingurinn - 1980, Page 125

SUMM AR Y
Food habits of mink (Mustela
vison Schreber) in Grindavík,
south west Iceland
by Karl Skírnisson,
Department of Biology, University of Iceland,
Reykjavík.
Food habits of mink near the coast at
Grindavík, sw-Iceland were studied by ana-
lyses of 518 faecal samples collected during
the period Jan. 1978—Feb. 1979. Samples
were kept in deep freeze until analyses. They
were broken up and examined wet in 70%
isopropanol. Two methods were used to
estimate diet composition: (1) the number
and estimated weight of individual food
items (2) the relative number of faeces whcre
a food item formed the main food, i.e. over
50% estimated volume of a faecal sample.
Fishes from intertidal and shallow waters
were the most important food at all times of
the year, averaging about 77% by weight.
Myxocephalus scorpius (L.) was most impor-
tant food fish; Pholis gunnellus (L.) and Ciliata
mustela (L.) were also important throughout
the year. Cyclopterus lumpus L. Gasterosteus
aculeatus L., Pollachius virens (L.) and Sebastes
sp. were important foods of certain seasons
(Fig. 3 & 4). Six other fish species were re-
corded as foods.
Birds totalled about 20% by weight.
Charadriiform birds especially Sterna para-
disaea were taken most frequently.
Crustaceans were taken in small quanti-
ties, (about 3% by weight), throughout the
year. Crustaceans eaten included the deca-
pod Carcinus maenas (L.), the isopods Ligia
oceanica (L.) and Idotea spp. and amphipods.
2Ö3