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2021-07-26

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cc-by (c) Drago, Massimiliano et al., 2021
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/185967

The isotopic niche of Atlantic, biting marine mammals and its relationship to skull morphology and body size

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https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-94610-w

Abstract

Understanding the trophic niches of marine apex predators is necessary to understand interactions between species and to achieve sustainable, ecosystem-based fisheries management. Here, we review the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios for biting marine mammals inhabiting the Atlantic Ocean to test the hypothesis that the relative position of each species within the isospace is rather invariant and that common and predictable patterns of resource partitioning exists because of constrains imposed by body size and skull morphology. Furthermore, we analyze in detail two species-rich communities to test the hypotheses that marine mammals are gape limited and that trophic position increases with gape size. The isotopic niches of species were highly consistent across regions and the topology of the community within the isospace was well conserved across the Atlantic Ocean. Furthermore, pinnipeds exhibited a much lower diversity of isotopic niches than odontocetes. Results also revealed body size as a poor predictor of the isotopic niche, a modest role of skull morphology in determining it, no evidence of gape limitation and little overlap in the isotopic niche of sympatric species. The overall evidence suggests limited trophic flexibility for most species and low ecological redundancy, which should be considered for ecosystem-based fisheries management.

Subject

Mamífers marins, Crani, Mida del cos, Nínxol ecològic, Atlàntic, Oceà

Subject (English)

Marine mammals, Skull, Body size, Niche (Ecology), Atlantic Ocean

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Articles publicats en revistes (Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals)

Citation

DRAGO, Massimiliano, et al. The isotopic niche of Atlantic, biting marine mammals and its relationship to skull morphology and body size. Scientific Reports. 2021. Vol. 11, num. 15147, pags. 1-14. ISSN 2045-2322. [consulted: 10 of June of 2026]. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/185967

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