Diet and prey demand of red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus , on Alabama artificial reefs

Red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, stomachs were collected from Alabama artificial reefs for gut content analysis from May 1999 to April 2000. Results indicate that red snapper diet changed with season and with red snapper size, with the diet being comprised primarily of demersal crustaceans, fish, and pelagic zooplankton. Stomachs also were collected during diel fishing trips in July and August, 2000 to determine feeding periodicity and diet composition. Results indicate that red snapper fed continuously throughout the day and night. Fish dominated the diets of red snapper in the day and night; however red snapper consumed more water-column organisms during the day and more sand/mud-associated organisms at night. Overall, red snapper did not appear to gain much nutrition from reef habitats. Annual prey demand of the red snapper population on Alabama artificial reefs was estimated to be over 31 million kg of food.