A wolf in sheep's clothing: Planktivorous Atlantic herring preys on demersal fishes in coastal waters.

This article discusses the feeding behavior of Atlantic herring in coastal waters, specifically in Greifswald Bay in the Baltic Sea. The researchers found that adult herring caught in the fall had unexpectedly consumed demersal fishes and large invertebrates, rather than the expected zooplankton. This behavior was consistent over multiple years of sampling. In contrast, herring stomachs in the spring were mostly empty. The study highlights the importance of considering the feeding traits of marine fish in population models and the need for more holistic approaches in food web science. [Extracted from the article]