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Feeding ecology and trophic level of the banded guitarfish, Zapteryx exasperata, inferred from stable isotopes and stomach contents analysis

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Abstract

The feeding ecology and trophic level of the banded guitarfish, Zapteryx exasperata, from the Gulf of California, were assessed using stable isotope analysis (SIA) of carbon and nitrogen in muscle samples, and stomach contents analysis (SCA). Males and females showed similar diet preferences with a high diet overlap (Cλ = 0.99) and similar values of δ13C and δ15N (ANOVA, F = 0.0 p = 0.94 for δ13C; F = 0.1 p = 0.78 for δ15N). The main prey groups found were demersal fishes dominated by the daisy midshipman, Porichthys margaritatus, (>90%IRI), however, pelagic fishes were also found (Engraulis mordax 2%IRI). An ontogenetic diet shift was found, indicated by the importance of crustaceans in the juvenile diet and the significant isotopic differences between juveniles and adults (δ13C, ANOVA, F = 13.3 p = 0.0004 and δ15N, ANOVA, F = 4.7 p = 0.03). An overall trend of increase in δ15N values with increasing body length (F = 8.15 p = 0.005) was observed. The mean trophic level estimated in this work by the two methods was ~4.1, indicating that this species is a top predator in the Gulf of California. Zapteryx exasperata is a specialist feeder (Bi = 0.11, H’ = 2.32), consuming mainly benthic fishes in coastal areas of the Gulf of California. The importance of this species in the benthic ecosystem equilibrium as a top predator is an important point to keep in mind when developing future management plans of the batoid fishery in the Gulf of California.

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to the fishermen from Estero del Soldado, Sonora, for allowing us to take samples, and to personnel from the aquatic chemistry laboratory from the Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas (CICIMAR-IPN) for support in the stable isotope analysis. This research was funded in part by the Instituto Nacional de Pesca, Project “Pesca Ribereña” CRIP-Guaymas and Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas Project “Ecology of elasmobranchs in Baja California Sur”. MPBP would like to thank the Dirección General de Estudios de Posgrado, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México for her PhD scholarship. FGM thanks the Instituto Politecnico Nacional (COFAA and EDI fellowships). Special thanks are given to L. Sampson and K.D. Eaton for the English review of this manuscript. All activities presented in this work were conducted in compliance with Mexican laws and regulations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad de Quintana Roo. División de Ciencias e Ingeniería, Boulevard Bahía s/n, Esquina Ignacio Comonfort. Colonia del Bosque, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, México

    María-del-Pilar Blanco-Parra & Carlos Alberto Niño-Torres

  2. Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional s/n, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, La Paz, BCS 23096, Mexico

    Felipe Galván-Magaña

  3. Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Paseo Claussen s/n, Col. Los Pinos, Mazatlán, Sin, 82000, México

    J. Fernando Márquez-Farías

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  1. María-del-Pilar Blanco-Parra
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  2. Felipe Galván-Magaña
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Correspondence to María-del-Pilar Blanco-Parra.

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Blanco-Parra, MdP., Galván-Magaña, F., Márquez-Farías, J.F. et al. Feeding ecology and trophic level of the banded guitarfish, Zapteryx exasperata, inferred from stable isotopes and stomach contents analysis. Environ Biol Fish 95, 65–77 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-011-9862-7

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