trolling in the lagoon. All fish were returned to the research ship, The samples wer: segregated by species, sealed in plastic bags, and frozen. shipped by air to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, C for processing. Over 1550 fish representing different reef and pelagic species were caught for analysis at Bikini Atoll between 1977 and 1984. SPECIES COLLECTED, FEEDING HABITS, AND TROPHIC-LEVEL RELATIONSHIPS ¥ The principal species collected are those that are commonly eaten by tt Marshallese people. These fish are relatively abundant, feeding habits, and, in some cases, radiological data were available have different represent species for which previous for comparison. The feeding habits and trophic level assignments described below are from descriptions by Hiatt an Strasburg. !8 Mullet, Crenimugil crenilabis and Neomyxus chaptalii, are herbivorous detrital feeders that ingest considerable quantities of bottom sediment alo with their food. Convict surgeonfish, Acanthurus triostequs, are herbivoro! browsers that feed on small algal fronds and filamentous algae that grow ol reef rock or on the base of dead coral. second trophic level. and other benthic Goatfish, Mulloidichthys samoensis, consume, fossoria fauna, including invertebrates, and small fish. level. Parrotfish, Mullet and surgeonfish belong to tl Scarus small clams, crustaceans, other This species belongs to the third trophic sordidus, are common reef-dwelling, omnivores that feed on live coral heads and occasional algae. grazing Parrotfish a placed in the fourth trophic level because their food source (live coral pol that feed on zooplankton) is assigned to the third trophic level. Larger benthic, midwater, and surface carnivores were also occasional] collected near islands from the lagoon. Jacks, Caranx melampygus (Ulua) ar Elegatis bipinnulatus (rainbow runner), are fast-swimming carnivores that fe on small fish and squid. crustacea. snapper), Elegatis bipinnulatus may occasionally eat swimmi Snappers, Aprion virescens (grey snapper) and Lutjanus bohar (r are hovering, midwater-to-surface Letherinus kallopterus (pigfish), benthic crustacea. carnivores. Another snapper, is a bottom dweller that feeds primarily Jacks and snappers are in the fourth trophic level. Tur Euthunnus affinis (bonito) and Gymnosarda nuda (Dog Tooth Tuna), and macker: Grammatorcynus billineatus, are large, 9000560 rapid-swimming carnivores that feed 6