27 research outputs found
Assessing the trophic ecology of three sympatric squid in the marine ecosystem off the Patagonian Shelf by combining stomach content and stable isotopic analyses
Squid species are important components of the Southern Atlantic Ocean ecosystems, as they
prey on a wide range of crustaceans, fish and cephalopods. As a result of this trophic
interaction and their high abundance, they are considered reliable indicators of energy
transfer and biomass in the food web. We identified Illex argentinus, Doryteuthis gahi and
Onykia ingens as the most important squid species interacting on the Patagonian shelf, and
used isotope analysis and stomach content identification to assess the feeding ecology and
interaction of these squids in the ecosystem. Our results describe trophic interactions by
direct predation of O. ingens and I. argentinus on D. gahi, and a trophic overlap of the three
squid, and indicate a higher trophic level and differences in the foraging areas for mature
and maturing D. gahi inferred through δ15N and δ13C concentrations. These differences were
related to the segregation and different habitat of large mature D. gahi and suggest a food
enrichment of C and N based on feeding sources other than those used by small maturing
D. gahi and I. argentinus and O. ingens.Versión del editor1,484