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Title: Trophic guilds and niche segregation among marine megafauna in the Bay of Biscay
Authors: Iglesias, Benat; Gimenez, Joan; Preciado, Izaskun; Mendez-Fernandez, Paula; Chouvelon, Tiphaine; Lambrechts, Adrien; Bustamante, Paco; Fort, Jerome; Goni, Nicolas; Spitz, Jerome; Astarloa, Amaia; Louzao, Maite
Abstract: The structure and functioning of ecosystems are largely determined by the interactions between species within a biological community. Among these interactions, species exhibiting similar vertical and spatial prey preferences can be identified, thereby belonging to the same trophic guild. Our study explored some trophic characteristics of a diverse megafaunal community (cetaceans, tunas, seabirds) in the Bay of Biscay (BoB). Using stable isotope analysis (SIA), we explored the dietary habits and niche overlap among predators. The degree of isotopic niche overlap was generally low, but with certain species exhibiting large and narrow isotopic niche areas (long-finned pilot whales and Balearic shearwaters, respectively). Our results revealed a diversity of dietary preferences leading to the identification of three distinct trophic guilds based on prey functional groups and spatial preferences: cephalopod feeders (e.g. long-finned pilot whales, Cuvier's beaked whales, striped dolphins), crustacean feeders (e.g. fin whales, albacores), and piscivores (e.g. common dolphins, harbour porpoises, bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic bluefin tunas, Balearic shearwaters). Our findings showed resource partitioning and niche differentiation among the megafaunal community, highlighting the complexity of BoB's marine ecosystem. The insights derived from this study hold important implications for ecosystem management and the implementation of conservation initiatives.
Keywords: Trophic groups; Resource partitioning; Niche differentiation; Megafaunal community; Stable isotopes; ISOTOPE MIXING MODELS; STABLE-ISOTOPES; FEEDING ECOLOGY; DISCRIMINATION FACTORS; STENELLA-COERULEOALBA; BALEARIC SHEARWATER; STRIPED DOLPHIN; BLUEFIN TUNA; FOOD WEBS; TOP-DOWN
Issue Date: 2024
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD
Type: Article
Language: 
DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106751
URI: http://dspace.azti.es/handle/24689/1885
ISSN: 0141-1136
E-ISSN: 1879-0291
Funder: Spanish Government
Basque Government
Department of Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment of the Basque Government
Ramon y Cajal contract from the Spanish Government [RYC-2012-09897]
CPER (Contrat de Projet Etat-Region)
FEDER (Fonds Europeen de Developpement Regional)
French ministry in charge of the environment
French Office for Biodiversity (Office Francaise de la Biodiversite-OFB)
Communaute d'Agglomeration de la Ville de La Rochelle
Appears in Publication types:Artículos científicos



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