Prey caloric value and predator energy needs: foraging predictions for wild spinner dolphins

Benoit‐Bird, Kelly J.

doi:10.1007/s00227-004-1339-1

Cited by 72 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 25 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The overall biomass of PDP and concentration of available energy appears to be higher in the winter seasons, which does not coincide with the higher abundance of dolphins sighted in the summer months. The suitability of prey includes abundance or biomass, as well as the distribution and ease of capture, all of which influence predator distribution (Benoit-Bird et al, 2013) and population size (Benoit-Bird, 2004). However, assessing the quality (i.e., nutritional value) of available prey may be a better indicator for assessing the value of prey for managing cetacean populations.…”

Section: Seasonal Energy Content and Prey Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Dolphin Prey Availability and Calorific Value in an Estuarine and Coastal Environment

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Prey density has long been associated with prey profitability for a predator, but prey quality has seldom been quantified. We assessed the potential prey availability and calorific value for Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in an estuarine and coastal environment of temperate south-western Australia. Fish were sampled using three methods (21.5 m beach seine, multi-mesh gillnet, and fish traps), across three regions (Estuary, Bay, and Ocean) in the study area. The total biomass and numbers of all species and those of potential dolphin prey were determined in austral summers and winters between 2007 and 2010. The calorific value of 19 species was determined by bomb calorimetry. The aim of the research was to evaluate the significance of prey availability in explaining the higher abundance of dolphins in the region in summer vs. winter across years. A higher abundance of prey was captured in the summer (mean of two summer seasons 12,080 ± 160) than in the winter (mean of two winter seasons = 7358 ± 343) using the same number of gear sets in each season and year. In contrast, higher biomass and higher energy rich prey were captured during winters than during summers, when fewer dolphins are present in the area. Variability was significant between season and region for the gillnet (p < 0.01), and seine (p < 0.01). The interaction of season and region was also significant for the calorific content captured by the traps (p < 0.03), and between the seasons for biomass of the trap catch (p < 0.02). The dolphin mother and calf pairs that remain in the Estuary and Bay year round may be sustained by the higher quality, and generally larger, if lesser abundant, prey in the winter months. Furthermore, factors such as predator avoidance and mating opportunities are likely to influence patterns of local dolphin abundance. This study provides insights into the complex dynamics of predator-prey interactions, and highlights the importance for a better understanding of prey abundance, distribution and calorific content in explaining the spatial ecology of large apex predators.

show abstract

Section: Seasonal Energy Content and Prey Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Dolphin Prey Availability and Calorific Value in an Estuarine and Coastal Environment

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Smith et al 1998). The mesopelagic fauna also represent prominent prey for higher trophic levels (Benoit-Bird 2004, Skjoldal 2004.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavior of individual mesopelagic fish in acoustic scattering layers of Norwegian fjords

Kaartvedt¹,

Torgersen²,

Klevjer³

et al. 2008

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mesopelagic acoustic scattering layers (SLs) in 2 fjords were studied from a stationary research vessel. Diel vertical movements of SLs were assessed by hull-mounted transducers, while in situ behavior of individuals constituting the SLs was resolved by a submerged echo sounder. The study focused on SLs made up of the lightfish Maurolicus muelleri and the lanternfish Benthosema glaciale. Individual fish migrated in a pronounced stepwise manner, alternating between vertical movements and stationary phases both during ascent and descent. Mean lengths of steps varied between 2.01 and 0.40 m, and mean duration of stationary phases between 69 and 36 s for fish in different SLs. Such travel-pause behavior concords with saltatory search, where fish scan the water for prey during the stationary phases, relocate and scan a new water parcel. Little activity was recorded among individuals in deep water, apart from infrequent, short shifts in vertical distribution. This study shows that stationary submerged echo sounders can provide detailed information on in situ behavior of mesopelagic fish.

show abstract

“…In general, it was expected that the caloric intake from squids was low in comparison with fish (Cox et al, 1996;Walker, 1996). However, some authors have detected no difference or specific trend in caloric ingestion when comparing fish, shrimps, and squids as prey species (Perez, 1994;Benoit-Bird, 2004). Di compared information about proximate-composition and caloric value of the prey species consumed by the coastal dolphins Sotalia guianensis and Pontoporia blainvillei, which are sympatric with T. lepturus in northern Rio de Janeiro State (Bittar & Di Beneditto, 2009), and verified that the squids D. plei and D. sanpaulensis provided higher energy content for both dolphins than the fish species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Current knowledge regarding the energy and nutritional composition of organisms allows assessment of energy transference rates among trophic levels (Eder & Lewis, 2005), understanding population dynamics and predators feeding behavior (Benoit-Bird, 2004) and bioenergetic modeling (Tierney et al, 2002). This approach becomes more important in studies of marine organisms, where in situ observation is difficult or cannot be practiced due to environmental conditions (Benoit-Bird, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding preference of adult females of ribbonfish Trichiurus lepturus through prey proximate-composition and caloric values

et al. 2012

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the present study we analysed the proximate-composition and caloric values of the preferred prey consumed by ribbonfish, Trichiurus lepturus L. 1758 (adult females), that are distributed in the inner continental shelf from northern Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil (~22ºS), assessing the potential of nutritional and energetic approach as a tool to understand the feeding selective pattern of this marine top carnivore. The preferred prey of this predator composed of fish co-specifics, Pellona harroweri, Chirocentrodon bleekerianus, Lycengraulis grossidens, Peprilus paru, squid Doryteuthis plei, and shrimp Xiphopenaeus kroyeri were collected from 2007 to 2010 for proximate-composition (water, protein, lipid, ash, and carbohydrate) and caloric value analyses. The correspondence analysis showed that protein is the main component in the prey species (61.32% of variance explained), standing out from the other nutrients. Lipid has the highest percentage related to L. grossidens, ash to X. kroyeri and carbohydrate to D. plei. The strong correlations between protein and caloric value (positive) and lipid and caloric value (negative) indicated that T. lepturus is attending its energy demand through the prey protein content. This work elucidated the feeding preference of adult females of T. lepturus in relation to nutritional and caloric content of their preferred prey. The species showed food selectivity to prey that provide more energy per ingested biomass, so that the feeding events can maximize the predator's caloric gain, which is obtained by a protein-based diet.No presente estudo foram analisadas a composição centesimal e o valor calórico das presas preferenciais consumidas pelo peixeespada, Trichiurus lepturus L. 1758 (fêmeas adultas), que se distribuem na plataforma continental interna do norte do estado do Rio de Janeiro, sudeste do Brasil (~ 22ºS). O objetivo foi avaliar o potencial da abordagem nutricional e energética como ferramenta para compreender o padrão de seletividade alimentar deste carnívoro marinho. As presas preferenciais deste predador, compostas por co-específicos e pelos peixes Pellona harroweri, Chirocentrodon bleekerianus, Lycengraulis grossidens e Peprilus paru, pela lula Doryteuthis plei e pelo camarão Xiphopenaeus kroyeri, foram coletadas entre 2007 e 2010 para análise da composição centesimal (água, proteína, lipídio, cinzas e carboidratos) e do valor calórico. A análise de correspondência mostrou que a proteína é o principal componente nas espécies de presa (61,32% da variância explicada), destacando-se dos outros nutrientes. Para o lipídio a maior porcentagem esteve relacionada com L. grossidens, cinzas com X. kroyeri e carboidratos com D. plei. As fortes correlações entre proteína e valor calórico (positiva) e lipídio e valor calórico (negativa) indicaram que T. lepturus está atendendo sua demanda de energia através do teor de proteína das presas. Este trabalho elucidou a preferência alimentar de fêmeas adultas de T. lepturus em relação ao conteúdo nutricional e calórico das pr...

show abstract

Prey caloric value and predator energy needs: foraging predictions for wild spinner dolphins

Cited by 72 publications

References 25 publications

Dolphin Prey Availability and Calorific Value in an Estuarine and Coastal Environment

Dolphin Prey Availability and Calorific Value in an Estuarine and Coastal Environment

Behavior of individual mesopelagic fish in acoustic scattering layers of Norwegian fjords

Feeding preference of adult females of ribbonfish Trichiurus lepturus through prey proximate-composition and caloric values

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About