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Differences in feeding ecology of the pink shrimps Penaeus brasiliensis and P. paulensis (Decapoda: Penaeidae) in Brazilian tropical ecosystems

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Abstract

We studied the feeding habits of the pink shrimps Penaeus brasiliensis and P. paulensis in two tropical estuaries (Guanabara and Sepetiba bays) and on the continental shelf of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, by analysing 317 stomach contents and comparing diet composition among species, seasons (rainy and dry) and areas. Few stomachs (< 2%) were empty, indicating frequent feeding activity and high food supply. We detected more than 20 dietary categories, primarily crustaceans, molluscs, polychaetes, foraminiferans, benthic diatoms and particulate organic matter (POM). Crustaceans were the most consumed prey, both among species and areas. Dietary overlap between species for each area was > 90%. P. brasiliensis and P. paulensis exhibit generalist, opportunistic and predominantly carnivorous behaviour. Nevertheless, diet differed between species, seasons and areas based on proportional differences in prey consumption, with Cumacea, Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Amphipoda Caprellidade, Paguroidea and POM contributing most to dietary divergence. Temporally, we uncovered greater individual dietary variability in the dry season (winter). Furthermore, adult shrimp typically ingested larger prey, such as hermit crab and squid, than juveniles, reflecting niche divergence between these groups. As Guanabara and Sepetiba bays represent important and productive fishing areas for pink shrimps, this study will provide essential information for an ecosystem model to be used in a management programme for these fisheries resources.

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The datasets generated and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a grant from Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa no Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ –#E26/111584/2014) and by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq –Programa Baías do Brasil, #441215/2017-3) as part of the long-term research programme “Programa Ecológico de Longa Duração da Baía de Guanabara (PELD – Guanabara)”. The authors are grateful to Professor Jean L. Valentin, Coordinator of PELD –Guanabara. We thank all of the participating taxonomists for help with species identification: Dr. Cristiana Serejo (Museu Nacional–UFRJ; peracarid crustaceans), Dr. Irene Azevedo Cardoso (Museu Nacional–UFRJ; decapod crustaceans), Dr. Inácio Domingo da Silva Neto (Instituto de Biologia (IB) –UFRJ; protozoans), Dr. Denise Tenenbaum (IB – UFRJ; diatoms) and Dr. Paulo Cesar de Paiva (IB–UFRJ; polychaetes). This article is part of the D.Sc. thesis of the first author. Thanks are also due to Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for a D.Sc. fellowship to the first author. Shrimp sampling in Guanabara Bay was conducted under authorization from the Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio), Brazilian Environmental Ministry (Environmental Licenses n° 27126-10 and n° 27553-1).

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  1. Programa de Pós Graduação em Zoologia do Museu Nacional - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (PPGZoo/MN-UFRJ), Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Pau-Brasil, 211 Prédio do CCS - Bloco A, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21949-900, Brazil

    Cássia de Carvalho & Helena P. Lavrado

  2. Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Rodovia BR 465 km 7, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, 23897-000, Brazil

    Karina A. Keunecke

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  1. Cássia de Carvalho
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de Carvalho, C., Keunecke, K.A. & Lavrado, H.P. Differences in feeding ecology of the pink shrimps Penaeus brasiliensis and P. paulensis (Decapoda: Penaeidae) in Brazilian tropical ecosystems. Aquat Ecol 57, 701–714 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-023-10040-y

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