Document of bibliographic reference 347721

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

New insights into the autecology of the two sympatric fish species Notothenia coriiceps and N. rossii from western Antarctic Peninsula: A trophic biomarkers approach

Abstract

Biomarker analysis, especially fatty acids (FA) and stable isotopes (SI), has become a useful tool to elucidate the flow of energy and trophic interactions in an ecosystem and to analyse the diet of species that are hard to observe whilst feeding. Herein we compare FA profiles and SI composition (nitrogen, δ¹⁵N and carbon, δ¹³C) of muscle tissue from two sympatric Antarctic fish species—Notothenia rossii and N. coriiceps—that are key components in the inshore ecosystem of the South Shetland Islands. For both nototheniids, potential benthic food sources (algae, amphipods, polychaetes and gastropods) were screened in order to re-evaluate their trophic position (TP) and the energy flow. Significant differences in FA and SI composition between the two fish species were found. Notothenia rossii showed a higher total FA concentration, with high levels of polyunsaturated FA. Conversely, the potential food sources tested showed low concentrations of these FAs. This could indicate that both nototheniids are feeding mainly on another food source or that FA bioconversion takes place. While the FA results might suggest a possible trophic niche segregation between N. rossii and N. coriiceps, both species occupy a similar trophic position. Furthermore, we found a 50-times higher total concentration of monounsaturated FA in N. rossii than in N. coriiceps that can be related to the higher buoyancy capacity of the former. Trophic biomarkers did not elucidate the main prey item as lipid source for N. rossii and N. coriiceps, suggesting that other food sources and potential fatty acid bioconversion should be further investigated.

WebOfScience code

https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000662865000003

Bibliographic citation

Moreira, E.; Novillo, M.; Mintenbeck, K.; Alurralde, G.; Barrera Oro, E.; De Troch, M. (2021). New insights into the autecology of the two sympatric fish species Notothenia coriiceps and N. rossii from western Antarctic Peninsula: A trophic biomarkers approach. Polar Biol. 44(8): 1591-1603. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00300-021-02903-7

Is peer reviewed

true