What do arctic polar cod eat?
Arctic polar cod are primarily zooplanktivores, meaning that they feed on small animals that drift or swim in the water column. Their diet mainly consists of copepods, small crustaceans that are abundant in the Arctic waters. Polar cod also feed on other planktonic organisms such as amphipods, euphausiids, chaetognaths, pteropods, and fish larvae. They may occasionally consume larger prey like juvenile fish or even cannibalize smaller individuals of their own species. The specific composition of their diet can vary depending on the region, season, and availability of different prey items.