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Fatty acid trophic markers elucidate resource partitioning within the demersal fish community of South Georgia and Shag Rocks (Southern Ocean)

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Abstract

Fatty acid analysis was used to study the trophic ecology of 10 demersal fish species in the South Georgia region. Principal component analysis grouped the species into three general clusters, revealing resource partitioning between species. Two groups were characterised by large proportions of either monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids, separating species according to their predominant feeding habitat. The third group showed fatty acid signatures overlapping with either or both of the previous two groups, suggesting a more opportunistic feeding behaviour for these species. Intraspecific comparisons furthermore revealed dietary variability with size, year and geographical location in several species. Mackerel icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari) in particular showed inter-annual differences in muscle lipid concentrations closely linked to prey availability with low lipid contents found in years of low krill (Euphausia superba) abundance. Despite the intraspecific differences the majority of species could be easily distinguished from each other, which indicates the utility of this method in the dietary analysis of higher predators.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the captain, crew and scientists on board RRS James Clark Ross during cruise JR 100 and on FPV Dorada during the South Georgia groundfish surveys in 2003, 2004 and 2006 (funded by the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands). Thanks also to Peter Rothery for advice on statistical analysis and Peter Fretwell for creating the map in Fig. 1. This is a contribution to the Ecosystems Science programme at the British Antarctic Survey.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB30ET, UK

    Gabriele Stowasser & David W. Pond

  2. Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Government House, Stanley, Falkland Islands

    Martin A. Collins

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  1. Gabriele Stowasser
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  2. David W. Pond
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  3. Martin A. Collins
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Correspondence to Gabriele Stowasser.

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Communicated by M. A. Peck.

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Stowasser, G., Pond, D.W. & Collins, M.A. Fatty acid trophic markers elucidate resource partitioning within the demersal fish community of South Georgia and Shag Rocks (Southern Ocean). Mar Biol 159, 2299–2310 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-2015-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-2015-5

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