Food and feeding of two Channichthyids, Champsocephalus gunnari and Chaenocephalus aceratus, around Elephant Island and in the South Shetland Islands (Subarea 48.1) in 2001 and 2002

Data on food and feeding of two icefish species, Champsocephalus gunnari and Chaenocephalus aceratus, were collected in the Elephant Island – South Shetland Islands region during the AMLR cruise in March 2001 with RV ‘Yuzhmorgeologiya’ and ANTXIX/3 in January – February 2002 with RV ‘Polarstern’. C. gunnari fed almost exclusively on krill (Euphausia superba) in both years. C. aceratus fed on krill and other crustaceans as well as on fish. C. aceratus smaller than 30 – 35 cm relied primarily on krill and other crustaceans while larger fish preyed predominantly on fish. They fed mainly on locally abundant fish species which were G. gibberifrons in 2001 and L. larseni and C. gunnari in 2002.