In this study we analyzed the diets of 26 nekton species collected from two years (2000 and 2002) off Oregon and northern California to describe dominant nekton trophic
groups of the northern California Current (NCC) pelagic ecosystem. We also examined interannual variation in the
diets of three nekton species. Cluster analysis of predator diets resulted in nekton trophic groups based on the
consumption of copepods, euphausiids, brachyuran larvae, larval juvenile fishes, and adult nekton. However, many fish within trophic groups consumed prey from multiple
trophic levels—euphausiids being the most widely consumed. Comparison of diets between years showed that most
variation occurred with changes in the contribution of euphausiids and brachyuran larvae to nekton diets. The importance of euphausiids and other crustacean prey to nekton indicates that omnivory is an important characteristic of the NCC food web; however it may change during periods of lower or higher upwelling and ecosystem production