Comparison of distribution and prey of four flounders on Georges Bank

This working paper is an exploratory evaluation of the spatial distribution of yellowtail, fourspot, windowpane, and winter flounders on Georges Bank as well as the abundance of prey consumed by each of these species. There may be little competition for food or space given the minimal overlap in distribution in both seasons. Analysis of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s food habits database for the four flounder species indicates that there is minimal overlap in the diet of Yellowtail Flounder compared to the diets of Fourspot Flounder, Windowpane Flounder and Winter Flounder, when looking at each stratum individually. A more detailed analysis is needed to explore the influence of bottom type and environmental indices, such as temperature and salinity on distribution. Such an analysis may be useful in determining if there are additional factors to explain the aggregations of flounders in these particular areas. 2014 TRAC Transboundary Resources Assessment Committee Working Paper 2014/ NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) NEFSC (Northeast Fisheries Science Center) Submitted Public Domain 1861