Ecología trófica de dos peces de la familia Gempylidae en aguas oceánicas del Pacífico Sur Oriental

The feeding of the escolar fishes Ruvettus pretiosus and Lepidocybium flavobrunneum has not been reported yet for southeastern Pacific waters. The main goal of this work was to study the trophic relationships using stomach contents and stable isotopes, δ15N and δ13C, based on mixing models. Results showed that both fish had differences in the importance of the prey, feeding strategy and habitat use. Also, they presented similar values of δ15N (~20‰) and δ13C (~-16‰), but a low probability of niche overlapping.

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Stable isotopes in jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) beaks to estimate its trophic position: comparison between stomach contents and stable isotopes

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315406013324 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 86 (2) ◽

pp. 437-445 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

R.I. Ruiz-Cooley ◽

Unai Markaida ◽

D. Gendron ◽

S. Aguíñiga

Keyword(s):

Stable Isotopes ◽

Stable Isotope ◽

Trophic Position ◽

Stomach Contents ◽

Isotope Ratios ◽

Trophic Relationships ◽

Dosidicus Gigas ◽

Jumbo Squid ◽

C And N ◽

Biomass Increase

Stomach contents and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stable isotope analysis were used to evaluate trophic relationships of jumbo squid, Dosidicus gigas. Buccal masses, beaks and stomach contents of large and medium maturing-sized jumbo squid and muscle from its main prey, the myctophid Benthosema panamense, were collected in the Gulf of California, Mexico during 1996, 1997 and 1999. Both the quantified C and N-isotope ratios in muscle, and stomach content analysis revealed that larger-sized maturing squid showed a higher trophic position than medium-sized individuals. However, a discrepancy between stomach contents versus stable isotope analyses was found in evaluating trophic relationships. Simple dilution models as a function of growth were used to estimate the C and N renewal dietary shift for jumbo squid. Estimates of the initial C and N pools in D. gigas with an initial age of 70 days and 210 days indicated isotopic shifts of 32% after a threefold biomass increase and 25% after a fourfold biomass increase, respectively. Additionally, beak samples of jumbo squid were evaluated as an alternative tissue to estimate squid trophic position using stable isotopes. The results showed a significant correlation between stable isotope ratios from muscle and beak samples. Muscle isotope values were higher than beak by 1% and 4% for δ13C and δ15N respectively. A test with jumbo squid beaks collected from a stomach of a stranded sperm whale confirmed the viability of this method.

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Diet and foraging behavior of Ageneiosus inermis (Teleostei, Auchenipteridae)

Neotropical Biology and Conservation ◽

10.3897/neotropical.15.e53383 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 209-218

Author(s):

Tiago Magalhães da Silva Freitas ◽

William Oliveira dos Santos ◽

Bruno da Silveira Prudente ◽

Luciano Fogaça de Assis Montag

Keyword(s):

Habitat Use ◽

Foraging Behavior ◽

Prey Species ◽

Feeding Strategy ◽

Stomach Contents ◽

Pelagic Species ◽

Bottom Substrate ◽

Xingu River ◽

The Family ◽

In The Wild

Ageneiosus inermis is the largest species of the family Auchenipteridae (Siluriformes) and has a primarily piscivorous diet, although no comprehensive data are available on the habitat use of this species. Given this, the present study describes the diet of A. inermis, and provides inferences on its habitat use, based on the known behavior of its prey species. We analyzed the stomach contents of 14 specimens collected in the middle of Xingu River in the Brazilian state of Pará, which we complemented with data on 47 other specimens obtained from two published studies. Most of the ingested items were fish associated with the bottom substrate and riverbanks. Although A. inermis is considered a pelagic species, we conclude it forages by exploring the river’s bottom and margins. Furthermore, as A. inermis is presumed to be diurnal, we assume that it does not pursue its prey actively, given that most of the prey species are nocturnal, but rather searches actively during the daytime for prey hidden in the bottom substrate. This hypothesis on the feeding strategy of A. inermis can only be confirmed by underwater observations, either in the wild or under captive conditions.

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Nursery habitat use and foraging ecology of the brown stingray Dasyatis lata determined from stomach contents, bulk and amino acid stable isotopes

Marine Ecology Progress Series ◽

10.3354/meps09171 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 433 ◽

pp. 221-236 ◽

Cited By ~ 95

Author(s):

JJ Dale ◽

NJ Wallsgrove ◽

BN Popp ◽

KN Holland

Keyword(s):

Stable Isotopes ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Habitat Use ◽

Foraging Ecology ◽

Stomach Contents ◽

Nursery Habitat ◽

Acid Stable

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A multi-faceted approach for quantifying the estuarine - nearshore transition in the life cycle of the bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf11136 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 62 (12) ◽

pp. 1421 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

J. M. Werry ◽

S. Y. Lee ◽

N. M. Otway ◽

Y. Hu ◽

W. Sumpton

Keyword(s):

Habitat Use ◽

Acoustic Telemetry ◽

Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽

Stomach Contents ◽

Inductively Coupled ◽

Carcharhinus Leucas ◽

Bull Shark ◽

Plasma Mass Spectrometry ◽

Shark Attacks ◽

Δ15n And Δ13c

Understanding the ontogenetic habitat linkages of sharks is important for conservation and managing human interactions. We used acoustic telemetry, catch data, elemental and stable isotope signatures and dietary analyses to investigate ontogenetic habitat use in south-east Queensland, Australia, by the bull shark Carcharhinus leucas, a IUCN ‘near-threatened’ species that is implicated in many shark attacks on humans in urban estuaries. Sequential analyses for δ15N and δ13C of vertebrae from five adult C. leucas and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) for elemental composition from 23 C. leucas, including a pregnant female, were also used to trace ontogenetic habitat dependence. Acoustic telemetry indicated large juvenile and subadult C. leucas remained in estuarine habitats. δ15N values across shark vertebrae showed an ontogenetic shift in diet with total length (TL), confirmed by stomach contents. LA-ICPMS data reflected the ontogenetic movements of C. leucas from natal habitats. Differences among adults were gender related. Shifts in habitat use by subadults were correlated with a sigmoidal δ13C relationship with TL. C. leucas have a multipartite, stage-specific dependency in their transition between habitats along the freshwater–estuarine–marine continuum, making them particularly susceptible to the habitat alteration that is occurring globally.

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Mixing models and stable isotopes as tools for research on feeding aquatic organisms

Ciência Rural ◽

10.1590/0103-8478cr20160101 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 48 (7) ◽

Author(s):

Cyntia Rafaela Ferreira de Moraes ◽

Gustavo Gonzaga Henry-Silva

Keyword(s):

Stable Isotopes ◽

Trophic Ecology ◽

Accurate Determination ◽

Aquatic Organisms ◽

Isotopic Analysis ◽

Trophic Relationships ◽

Mixing Models ◽

Relative Contribution ◽

Promising Tool ◽

Isotope Technique

ABSTRACT: Implementation of mixture models in isotopic analysis has been increasing due to the need to analyze sources and understand their variations in relation to consumers, which requires an accurate determination of their discriminant rate and fractioning. In this context, we presented the main concepts related to the application of stable isotopes and mixing models, with the aim to analyze the benefits and problems of these tools in surveys on nutrition of aquatic organisms. The predominant methods identified included application of the models IsoSource, MixSIR, SIBER and SIAR, with the use of C and N isotopes in research with aquatic organisms. Studies in both freshwater and marine environments were evaluated to determine the relative contribution of the main food items and understand trophic relationships between organisms. It can be concluded that the application of mixing models, with the stable isotope technique, is a promising tool for research on feeding aquatic organisms and understanding issues related to trophic ecology of these organisms.

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A trophic study of a marine ecosystem off southeastern Australia using stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f02-031 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 59 (3) ◽

pp. 514-530 ◽

Cited By ~ 175

Author(s):

Stephanie R Davenport ◽

Nicholas J Bax

Keyword(s):

Stable Isotopes ◽

Stable Isotope ◽

Marine Mammals ◽

Marine Ecosystem ◽

Stomach Contents ◽

Trophic Relationships ◽

Carbon And Nitrogen ◽

Southeastern Australia ◽

Functional Patterns ◽

Bottom Depth

The stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen were used to investigate trophic relationships of fish and invertebrates on the continental shelf of southeastern Australia. We examined 87 fish species, marine mammals, penguins, invertebrates, algal samples, suspended particulate organic matter (POM), and sediments. The main source of primary production is oceanic phytoplankton, although there is evidence of a seagrass contribution to the benthos. Marine mammals, penguins, some benthic invertebrates, and some benthic fish filled the highest trophic positions. Sources of variability in isotope results included temporal (POM, some fish) and spatial (POM, sediments) elements, bottom depth (some fish), and size (some fish). Fish had muscle δ15N values of 9.6 to 14.7 and δ13C values of 20.6 to 14.6. Cluster analysis on fish stable isotope results produced fish groups that could be interpreted with trophic and habitat information. Trophic relationships in fish, suggested by stable isotope results, were supported by stomach contents analysis. Stable isotope results may indicate more representative trophic relationships, as stomach contents analyses tend to group prey by taxon rather than by trophodynamic position. In fish and invertebrates, stable isotope results related more to functional patterns of feeding than to taxonomic relationships.

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Assessment of trophic relationships between symbiotic tropical ophiuroids using C and N stable isotope analysis

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315406014494 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 86 (6) ◽

pp. 1443-1447 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

D. Fourgon ◽

G. Lepoint ◽

I. Eeckhaut

Keyword(s):

Stable Isotopes ◽

Potential Benefit ◽

Feeding Habits ◽

Isotope Analysis ◽

Tracer Experiment ◽

Trophic Relationships ◽

Nitrogen Stable Isotopes ◽

Carbon And Nitrogen ◽

C And N ◽

The One

Analyses of the natural abundance of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes were performed to investigate the feeding habits of two ophiuroids, Ophiomastix venosa and Ophiocoma scolopendrina, and to assess the potential benefit obtained by the symbiotic Ophiomastix venosa juveniles. A tracer experiment was also carried out to clarify the contribution of algae to the nitrogen uptake amongst the tested ophiuroids. Our results suggest that Ophiocoma scolopendrina adults occupy a higher position in the food web than Ophiomastix venosa and mainly feed on neuston. In contrast, O. venosa adults feed on the alga Sargassum densifolium and on organic matter associated with sediment. Free juveniles and symbiotic juveniles of O. venosa have intermediate δ13C values between both adult species. The high proportion of 13C in the symbiotic juveniles compared to the one in their conspecific adults indicates that their diet slightly differs from the latter and is closer to that of Ophiocoma scolopendrina. This raises the hypothesis that symbiotic juveniles steal neuston from their associated host, O. scolopendrina.

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Changes in Habitat Use and Feeding Chronology of Juvenile Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Fall and the Onset of Winter in Silver Creek, Idaho

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f93-237 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 50 (10) ◽

pp. 2119-2128 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

Michael D. Riehle ◽

J. S. Griffith

Keyword(s):

Rainbow Trout ◽

Habitat Use ◽

Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽

Density Distribution ◽

Stomach Contents ◽

Early Morning ◽

Invertebrate Drift ◽

Juvenile Rainbow Trout ◽

Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus Mykiss

We assessed changes in density, distribution, and microhabitat of age-0 rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Silver Creek, a partially spring-fed stream, by periodic snorkeling in August 1987 through January 1988. We examined trout stomach contents and invertebrate drift samples in diel collections in August, September, October, and January to test if the period of feeding shifted from daytime to nighttime, concurrent with a transition to day concealment. In late September, fish aggregated briefly during the day and then began to conceal themselves in macrophyte beds, undercut banks, and submerged sedges and grasses along streambanks as temperature dropped below 8 °C in early October. Fish emerged from concealment at night, and numbers of trout visible were greatest 30–60 min after sunset and about 30 min before sunrise. Periods of peak feeding changed from afternoon and evening in August and September, when fish were day active, to mainly at night in October after the initiation of day concealment. Trout did not feed upon abundant chironomids in the daytime drift in October. In January, fish fed at 1–4 °C on mayflies, and stomachs were fullest in the early morning. Observations suggest that Silver Creek trout experienced a metabolic deficit that began in September.

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‘Taking Fishers’ Knowledge to the Lab’: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Understand Fish Trophic Relationships in the Brazilian Amazon

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.3389/fevo.2021.723026 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Paula Evelyn Rubira Pereyra ◽

Gustavo Hallwass ◽

Mark Poesch ◽

Renato Azevedo Matias Silvano

Keyword(s):

Stable Isotopes ◽

Food Webs ◽

Fish Species ◽

Trophic Interactions ◽

Brazilian Amazon ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

Trophic Relationships ◽

Ecological Knowledge ◽

Data Limitations ◽

Combining Data

Trophic levels can be applied to describe the ecological role of organisms in food webs and assess changes in ecosystems. Stable isotopes analysis can assist in the understanding of trophic interactions and use of food resources by aquatic organisms. The local ecological knowledge (LEK) of fishers can be an alternative to advance understanding about fish trophic interactions and to construct aquatic food webs, especially in regions lacking research capacity. The objectives of this study are: to calculate the trophic levels of six fish species important to fishing by combining data from stable isotopes analysis and fishers’ LEK in two clear water rivers (Tapajós and Tocantins) in the Brazilian Amazon; to compare the trophic levels of these fish between the two methods (stable isotopes analysis and LEK) and the two rivers; and to develop diagrams representing the trophic webs of the main fish prey and predators based on fisher’s LEK. The fish species studied were Pescada (Plagioscion squamosissimus), Tucunaré (Cichla pinima), Piranha (Serrasalmus rhombeus), Aracu (Leporinus fasciatus), Charuto (Hemiodus unimaculatus), and Jaraqui (Semaprochilodus spp.). A total of 98 interviews and 63 samples for stable isotopes analysis were carried out in both rivers. The average fish trophic levels did not differ between the stable isotopes analysis and the LEK in the Tapajós, nor in the Tocantins Rivers. The overall trophic level of the studied fish species obtained through the LEK did not differ from data obtained through the stable isotopes analysis in both rivers, except for the Aracu in the Tapajós River. The main food items consumed by the fish according to fishers’ LEK did agree with fish diets as described in the biological literature. Fishers provided useful information on fish predators and feeding habits of endangered species, such as river dolphin and river otter. Collaboration with fishers through LEK studies can be a viable approach to produce reliable data on fish trophic ecology to improve fisheries management and species conservation in tropical freshwater environments and other regions with data limitations.

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