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Non-lethal dorsal fin sampling for stable isotope analysis in seahorses

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Abstract

Sampling collection for stable isotope analysis has traditionally involved the sacrifice of the animal. Seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) are listed as threatened by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (http://www.cites.org) and consequently lethal sampling is undesirable. We evaluated the adequacy of dorsal fin tissue of adult seahorses Hippocampus guttulatus for stable isotope analysis as an alternative to lethal tissue sampling. Three seahorse tissues (dorsal fin, muscle, and liver) were analyzed for comparisons of δ15N and δ13C values. Similarities found between δ15N and δ13C values in dorsal fin and muscle tissue of H. guttulatus suggest that both tissues are adequate for stable isotope analysis to understand feeding ecology of seahorses. However, considering the threatened status of the species, dorsal fin tissue would be recommended in adult seahorses as a non-lethal sampling. The effect of lipid extraction on carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values was also evaluated in each seahorse tissues. Significant effects of lipids extraction did only occur for δ13C values in muscle and liver. It was found that lipid removal was not necessary to perform SIA in dorsal fin tissues. Due to the limited availability of fin tissue obtained from fin-clipping in seahorses, the relationship between the mass/surface of dorsal fin clip and stable isotope values was analyzed. δ15N and δ13C values in fin samples were found to be independent of the size of fin analyzed. According to our study, the use of fin-clipping sampling, with a minimum surface analyzed of 12.74 mm2, was found to be an adequate method for SIA in seahorses.

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Acknowledgments

The study was financed by Projects CGL2009-08386 and 09MDS022402PR. S. Valladares was supported by a PhD JAE-Pre Grants (Junta para la Ampliación de Estudios Program) from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), co-financed by the European Social Fund. We are grateful to P. Quintas, A. Chamorro, A. Blanco, and T. Hermelo for their assistance in the maintenance of seahorse broodstock and sampling. We also thank A. Chadburn for checking the English content of the manuscript and anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

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  1. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (CSIC), Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208, Vigo, Spain

    Sonia Valladares & Miquel Planas

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  1. Sonia Valladares
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  2. Miquel Planas
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Correspondence to Sonia Valladares.

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Handling Editor: Piet Spaak.

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Valladares, S., Planas, M. Non-lethal dorsal fin sampling for stable isotope analysis in seahorses. Aquat Ecol 46, 363–370 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-012-9407-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-012-9407-y

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