scholarly journals Consumption of Shrews, Sorex spp., by Arctic Grayling, Thymallus arcticus

2004 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan W. Moore ◽  
G. J. Kenagy

In an investigation of the dietary habits of Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) we found that two individuals out of 93 sampled in southwestern Alaska (approximately 59°N, 159°W) contained a total of five shrews (Sorex spp.). These shrews contained enriched levels of nitrogen stable isotopes, suggesting utilization of nutrients derived from salmon. We hypothesize that normally terrestrial shrews accidentally enter streams while foraging along the productive riparian zones of creeks with high densities of salmon. Shrews are apparently susceptible to opportunistic predation by resident stream fishes, including Arctic Grayling, when they enter the streams.

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (6) ◽  
pp. 1443-1447 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Fourgon ◽  
G. Lepoint ◽  
I. Eeckhaut

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.


2010 ◽  
Vol 143 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Hakenbeck ◽  
Ellen McManus ◽  
Hans Geisler ◽  
Gisela Grupe ◽  
Tamsin O'Connell

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