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Epibenthic prey species for juvenile salmon


Juvenile salmon prey on a variety of epibenthic invertebrates, including the harpacticoid copepod species shown on the graph to the left. This graph shows higher densities of  these prey species on finned and stepped panels.  Smooth panels with fins and steps had significantly higher densities compared to flat panels.  However, densities were actually higher on the vertical portions of these panels, suggesting that the fin and step features are altering the adjacent vertical substrate, possibly due to shading or wave attenuation (not tested).


Insect larvae are also an important prey item for juvenile salmon. In the graph to the right, insect prey were primarily chironomid larvae and were also found in significantly higher densities on panels with fins and steps than on the reference and control ("R" & "C") sections of seawall.