Spatio-temporal isotopic signatures (delta C-13 and delta N-15) reveal that two sympatric West African mullet species do not feed on the same basal production sources

Abstract

Potential trophic competition between two sympatric mullet species, Mugil cephalus and Mugil curema, was explored in the hypersaline estuary of the Saloum Delta (Senegal) using C-13 and N-15 composition of muscle tissues. Between species, N-15 compositions were similar, suggesting a similar trophic level, while the difference in C-13 compositions indicated that these species did not feed from exactly the same basal production sources or at least not in the same proportions. This result provides the first evidence of isotopic niche segregation between two limno-benthophageous species belonging to the geographically widespread, and often locally abundant, Mugilidae family