Trophic structure of mesopelagic fishes in the western Mediterranean based on stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen

Valls, María; Olivar, M. Pilar; Puelles, María Luz Fernández de; Molı́, Balbina; Bernal, A.; Sweeting, Christopher J.

doi:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2014.04.007

Cited by 61 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 86 publications

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“…With this study, it was clearly understood that the load in the harbor station originated from the terrestrial inputs, while the load in the control station originated from phytoplankton, which could affect the isotopic values of zooplankton and POM. In addition, the isotopic values of zooplankton and POM measured during the study were similar to the previous studies conducted close to the region and no high differences were observed [11,39,40]. Nevertheless, the values of physico-chemical and biological variables were similar to those recorded in the previous studies in the region [2,4,5,41].…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 87%

Potential Impacts of a Waste Reception Facility on Stable Isotope Composition of Zooplankton and Particulate Organic Matter in the Dardanelles

Uzundumlu¹,

Büyükateş²,

Ateş³

2020

Pol. J. Environ. Stud.

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In this study, seasonal stable isotope compositions of zooplankton and particulate organic matter were analyzed from the coastal zone in Kepez Harbor, the discharge point of a waste treatment plant. The results were compared with the results of a control station located 10 km away from the harbor. Zooplankton samples were collected horizontally with a 200 µm mesh plankton net from the surface waters. POM samples were collected with a 5L Nansen bottle and filtered through precombusted GF/F filters. Variables such as temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a as well as oil-grease and chemical oxygen demand were also determined in the study sites. The salinity values in the control station were significantly higher than the harbor station through the whole year. The δ 13 C values of POM in the control station were significantly higher than the values observed in the harbor station. The δ 15 N values of zooplankton in the harbor were higher than the values obtained in the control station; however, the differences were not significant. The values of oil-grease obtained in two stations were lower than the values pronounced in EPA, EU, and Turkish Regulations. The study showed that the stable isotope compositions were affected by terrestrial inputs and high currents rather than the facilities comprised in the harbor.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 87%

Potential Impacts of a Waste Reception Facility on Stable Isotope Composition of Zooplankton and Particulate Organic Matter in the Dardanelles

Uzundumlu¹,

Büyükateş²,

Ateş³

2020

Pol. J. Environ. Stud.

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“…The five feeding guilds (piscivore, large decapod consumer, copepod consumer, mixed zooplanktivore, generalist) documented using GCA were less well defined using SIA, possibly due to consistent consumption of zooplankton (Gartner et al., ) inferred from SIA (this study). Only three feeding guilds were previously reported for mesopelagic fishes [Gartner et al., (using GCA) and Valls et al., (using SIA)]. It is possible that juvenile mesopelagic fishes have more specialized diets than adults.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fish isotopic composition can be influenced by various facets in- (Valls et al, 2014). In addition to utilizing prey enriched in 15 N, fishes occupying cooler, deep water may have reduced metabolic activity, allowing mesopelagic fishes (both VM and WM) to convert more energy to growth (McLaren, 1963;Enright, 1977;Herring, 2002) or be more efficient in N use (Trueman, McGill, & Guyard, 2005).…”

Section: General Trophic Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

Trophic structure of mesopelagic fishes in the Gulf of Mexico revealed by gut content and stable isotope analyses

2017

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Mesopelagic fishes represent an important component of the marine food web due to their global distributions, high abundances and ability to transport organic material throughout a large part of the water column. This study combined stable isotope (SIAs) and gut content analyses (GCAs) to characterize the trophic structure of mesopelagic fishes in the North‐Central Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, this study examined whether mesopelagic fishes utilized chemosynthetic energy from cold seeps. Specimens were collected (9–25 August 2007) over three deep (>1,000 m) cold seeps at discrete depths (surface to 1,503 m) over the diurnal cycle. GCA classified 31 species (five families) of mesopelagic fishes into five feeding guilds: piscivores, large crustacean consumers, copepod consumers, generalists and mixed zooplanktivores. However, these guilds were less clearly defined based on stable isotope mixing model (MixSIAR) results, suggesting diets may be more mixed over longer time periods (weeks–months) and across co‐occurring species. Copepods were likely important for the majority of mesopelagic fishes, consistent with GCA (this study) and previous literature. MixSIAR results also identified non‐crustacean prey items, including salps and pteropods, as potentially important prey items for mesopelagic fishes, including those fishes not analysed in GCA (Sternoptyx spp. and Melamphaidae). Salps and other soft‐bodied species are often missed in GCAs. Mesopelagic fishes had δ13C results consistent with particulate organic matter serving as the baseline organic carbon source, fueling up to three trophic levels. Fishes that undergo diel vertical migration were depleted in 15N relative to weak migrators, consistent with depth‐specific isotope trends in sources and consumers, and assimilation of 15N‐depleted organic matter in surface waters. Linear correlations between fish size and δ15N values suggested ontogenetic changes in fish diets for several species. While there was no direct measure of mesopelagic fishes assimilating chemosynthetic material, detection of infrequent consumption of this food resource may be hindered by the assimilation of isotopically enriched photosynthetic organic matter. By utilizing multiple dietary metrics (e.g. GCA, δ13C, δ15N, MixSIAR), this study better defined the trophic structure of mesopelagic fishes and allowed for insights on feeding, ultimately providing useful baseline information from which to track mesopelagic trophodynamics over time and space.

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“…Instead, sources for all mixing models were constrained to surface zooplankton from Isla de la Plata and assumed representative of mesopelagic sources from other studies. There is strong isotopic similarity between mesopelagic zooplankton and mesopelagic fishes [21], therefore, small mesopelagic fish ( Cyclothone alba ( n = 3), Cyema atrum ( n = 3) and Hygophum proximum ( n = 5)) from the NPSG with equivalent trophic positions to primary and secondary copepod consumers (2.1–2.9 [22]) were used as a representative offshore mesopelagic food source. Overall mean δ 13 C and δ 15 N values from small mesopelagic fish species ( Cyclothone alba , Cyema atrum and H. proximum ) were −17.6 ± 0.8‰ and 6.2 ± 1.5‰, respectively [16].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Manta birostris, predator of the deep? Insight into the diet of the giant manta ray through stable isotope analysis

et al. 2016

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The characterization of diet for the giant manta ray Manta birostris has been problematic given their large-scale movement patterns and the difficulty in obtaining stomach contents from this species. The large majority of existing information is based on observational data limited to feeding events at the sea surface during daylight. Recently discovered aggregation sites for the giant manta ray off mainland Ecuador are some of the most accessible to date and provide a unique opportunity for researchers to gather much needed information on this elusive species. To assess how important surface zooplankton is to giant manta ray diet, we conducted stable isotope analysis (15N and 13C) on M. birostris muscle and surface zooplankton. Trophic position estimates placed M. birostris overall at a secondary consumer level of approximately 3.4 but there was large variation in δ15N and δ13C values among individuals. Manta birostris muscle tissue δ13C values were also not consistent with this species feeding predominantly on surface zooplankton and suggest that the majority of dietary intake is of mesopelagic origin. Given the conservative life history and fisheries pressure on large planktivores, knowledge of their trophic role and foraging strategies is essential to better understand their ecology and develop effective conservation measures.

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Trophic structure of mesopelagic fishes in the western Mediterranean based on stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen

Cited by 61 publications

References 86 publications

Potential Impacts of a Waste Reception Facility on Stable Isotope Composition of Zooplankton and Particulate Organic Matter in the Dardanelles

Potential Impacts of a Waste Reception Facility on Stable Isotope Composition of Zooplankton and Particulate Organic Matter in the Dardanelles

Trophic structure of mesopelagic fishes in the Gulf of Mexico revealed by gut content and stable isotope analyses

Manta birostris, predator of the deep? Insight into the diet of the giant manta ray through stable isotope analysis

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