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Resource partitioning among sympatric elasmobranchs in the central-western Mediterranean continental shelf

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Abstract

Knowledge of the mechanisms that allow coexistence among sympatric species is fundamental to understand ecosystem functioning. Resource partitioning among seven elasmobranchs inhabiting the Sardinian continental shelf (40°07′N, 9°00′E): Dasyatis pastinaca; Raja asterias; R. brachyura; R. clavata; R. miraletus; R. polystigma and Scyliorhinus canicula, was investigated through stomach content analysis. Data from 1680 samples collected between 2005 and 2014, in 26–200 m depth, were analysed with respect to population, sex, season (winter and summer) and size groups. Species living in shallower waters (characterized by a narrower bathymetric range) had the most specialized diets. All species appeared to be mesopredators, feeding mainly on Crustacea, Actinopterygii, Mollusca and Polychaeta. Despite shared common morphological features, from the high ecological diversity of prey items, we hypothesized the presence of different predatory behavior among the species studied: some species were able to feed on endobenthic and/or epibenthic organisms, while others had made limited movements in the water column. Non-parametric Multi-Dimensional Scaling analysis highlighted the presence of five predator groups, confirming strong resource partitioning, as also demonstrated by low levels of interspecific niche overlap. The observed variations in feeding habits could be ascribed only to size and not to sex or season. Generally, diet changed from small Crustacean prey, to larger prey, like Actinopterygii and Mollusca. Some species became more generalist during development, others restricted their prey range. Shifts in feeding habits affected species’ roles in the food web, with different species occupying different functional trophic groups over the course of their life cycles.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Responsible Editor, Dr. Ewan Hunter, and the anonymous referee for their constructive comments and their kind help in improving the manuscript.

Funding

Funding for this research were provided by the European Union and the Italian Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Via T. Fiorelli, 1, 09126, Cagliari, Italy

    Antonello Mulas, Andrea Bellodi, Rita Cannas, Alessandro Cau, Martina Francesca Marongiu, Paola Pesci, Cristina Porcu & Maria Cristina Follesa

  2. CoNISMa, Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Piazzale Flaminio, 9, 00196, Rome, Italy

    Antonello Mulas, Andrea Bellodi, Rita Cannas, Alessandro Cau, Martina Francesca Marongiu, Paola Pesci, Cristina Porcu & Maria Cristina Follesa

  3. COISPA Tecnologia & Ricerca, Stazione Sperimentale per lo Studio delle Risorse del Mare, Via dei Trulli 18/20, 70126, Bari, Italy

    Pierluigi Carbonara

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Correspondence to Antonello Mulas.

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Samples were collected from monitoring programs. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of organisms for the study were followed.

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Mulas, A., Bellodi, A., Cannas, R. et al. Resource partitioning among sympatric elasmobranchs in the central-western Mediterranean continental shelf. Mar Biol 166, 153 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-019-3607-0

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