An isotopic assessment of the feeding habits of free-ranging manatees

Reich, Kimberly J.; Worthy, Graham A. J.

doi:10.3354/meps322303

Cited by 46 publications

(50 citation statements)

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“…6). The diet source mean values for δ 13 C were corrected for diet -tissue discrimination by 2.8 ‰ as measured by Alves-Stanley & Worthy (2009) and consistent with Reich & Worthy (2006). To fit the isotopic signature of the consumer within the diet source polygon, possible nitrogen diet -tissue discrimination values ranging from 1.0 to 1.5 ‰ were used.…”

Section: Diet Modelingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Florida manatees appear to exhibit regional and possibly seasonal differences in diet composition (Reich & Worthy 2006). Because of the previously mentioned habitat and climate differences between the 2 subspecies, seagrasses tend to make up a much larger portion of the manatee diet in Puerto Rico than freshwater and/or estuarine vegetation (Mignucci-Giannoni & Beck 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To accurately interpret isotopic results, it is important to know the diet -tissue discrimination value (the difference in isotope ratios between the diet and consumer tissue) as well as the turnover rate (the amount of time required to incorporate isotopes from the diet into the tissue). Previous studies have calculated or estimated diet -tissue discrimination values and turnover rates for carbon and nitrogen isotopes in manatee skin (Ames et al 1996, Reich & Worthy 2006, Alves-Stanley & Worthy 2009, allowing for more accurate interpretation of stable isotope data.The present study is the first to apply stable isotope analysis to Antillean manatees and further expands the assessment of the feeding ecology of Florida manatees. The objectives of this study were to (1) analyze δ 13 C and δ 15 N values in epidermal samples collected from free-ranging manatees in Florida, Belize, and Puerto Rico, (2) compare signatures in the skin to those of freshwater, estuarine, and marine vegetation within the presumed manatee diet, and (3) assess possible differences in feeding preferences by region, sex, age class, and season.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Feeding preferences of West Indian manatees in Florida, Belize, and Puerto Rico as indicated by stable isotope analysis

Alves-Stanley¹,

Worthy²,

Bonde³

2010

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The endangered West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus has 2 recognized subspecies: the Florida T. m. latirostris and Antillean T. m. manatus manatee, both of which are found in freshwater, estuarine, and marine habitats. A better understanding of manatee feeding preferences and habitat use is essential to establish criteria on which conservation plans can be based. Skin from manatees in Florida, Belize, and Puerto Rico, as well as aquatic vegetation from their presumed diet, were analyzed for stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios. This is the first application of stable isotope analysis to Antillean manatees. Stable isotope ratios for aquatic vegetation differed by plant type (freshwater, estuarine, and marine), collection location, and in one instance, season. Carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios for manatee skin differed between collection location and in one instance, season, but did not differ between sex or age class. Signatures in the skin of manatees sampled in Belize and Puerto Rico indicated a diet composed primarily of seagrasses, whereas those of Florida manatees exhibited greater regional variation. Mixing model results indicated that manatees sampled from Crystal River and Homosassa Springs (Florida, USA) ate primarily freshwater vegetation, whereas manatees sampled from Big Bend Power Plant, Ten Thousand Islands, and Warm Mineral Springs (Florida) fed primarily on seagrasses. Possible diet -tissue discrimination values for 15 N were estimated to range from 1.0 to 1.5 ‰. Stable isotope analysis can be used to interpret manatee feeding behavior over a long period of time, specifically the use of freshwater vegetation versus seagrasses, and can aid in identifying critical habitats and improving conservation efforts.KEY WORDS: Stable isotope · West Indian manatee · Seagrass · Aquatic plants · 13 C · 15 N · Feeding ecology · Mixing model Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherMar Ecol Prog Ser 402: [255][256][257][258][259][260][261][262][263][264][265][266][267] 2010 many other differences in habitat, climate, and population size that have unique effects on the success of each subspecies. Both subspecies appear to require regular year-round access to a freshwater source (Lefebvre et al. 1989, Olivera-Gomez & Mellink 2005, a requirement that is likely a result of osmoregulatory constraints (Ortiz et al. 1998(Ortiz et al. , 1999. Winter habitat use by Florida manatees is primarily influenced by water temperature, whereby physiological constraints require that they aggregate at natural (springs) and/or artificial (power plant outflows) warm water sources when water temperatures drop below 20°C (Irvine 1983, Worthy et al. 2000, Bossart et al. 2003. This pattern is unnecessary for Antillean manatees since their range lies in the tropics where water temperatures are more constant. Population estimates for the Florida manatee suggest counts as high as 3807 individuals (FWC 2009), whereas Antillean manatees are thought to number fewer than 100 individuals ...

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Section: Diet Modelingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Feeding preferences of West Indian manatees in Florida, Belize, and Puerto Rico as indicated by stable isotope analysis

Alves-Stanley¹,

Worthy²,

Bonde³

2010

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…N can indicate geographical variation in feeding location [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18], including in marine mammals [12,13], whereas small changes in d…”

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confidence: 99%

Rewriting the history of an extinction—was a population of Steller's sea cows ( Hydrodamalis gigas ) at St Lawrence Island also driven to extinction?

Crerar

Crerar²,

Domning

et al. 2014

Biol. Lett.

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The Kommandorskiye Islands population of Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) was extirpated ca 1768 CE. Until now, Steller's sea cow was thought to be restricted in historic times to Bering and Copper Islands, Russia, with other records in the last millennium from the western Aleutian Islands. However, Steller's sea cow bone has been obtained by the authors from St Lawrence Island, Alaska, which is significantly further north. Bone identity was verified using analysis of mitochondrial DNA. 800-920 CE). The samples date from close to the beginning of the mediaeval warm period, which could indicate that the population at St Lawrence Island was driven to extinction by climate change. A warming of the climate in the area may have changed the availability of kelp; alternatively or in addition, the animals may have been driven to extinction by the expansion of the Inuit from the Bering Strait region, possibly due to opening waterways, maybe following bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus), or searching for iron and copper. This study provides evidence for a previously unknown population of sea cows in the North Pacific within the past 1000 years and a second Steller's sea cow extirpation event in recent history.

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Spatio‐temporal, ontogenetic and sex‐related patterns in resource use of Amazonian manatees across floodplains and estuaries as inferred by δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N isotopic values

Carvalho

Marmontel

Botta

et al. 2022

Aquatic Conservation

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1. Threats to aquatic mammals may occur in isolation or in combination, leading to cumulative effects on populations and their ecosystems. Thus, conservation actions must consider the complexity of factors involved in patterns of habitat use, including feeding ecology, such as ontogenetic, spatial and temporal dietary shifts.2. The Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis) occurs in a variety of environments, such as várzeas and igap os (flooded areas) and estuaries. Different environments can lead to variation in the diet of manatees according to the availability and abundance of plant species.3. Stable isotope analysis (δ 13 C and δ 15 N) of manatee teeth was performed to assess spatio-temporal, ontogenetic and sex-related patterns in resource use. Mixing models were applied to identify the most consumed plant groups.4. In várzeas, there were significant interactions between sex and ontogenetic class and ontogenetic class and time series for δ 13 C values. For manatees sampled from 1994 to 2004, males and adults showed the highest δ 15 N values, and aquatic C 3 , followed by C 4 plants, were the groups that most contributed to the species' diet. 5. Comparisons among the environments showed the highest δ 13 C values for manatees from várzeas and the lowest values for manatees from igap os. Várzeas

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An isotopic assessment of the feeding habits of free-ranging manatees

Cited by 46 publications

References 24 publications

Feeding preferences of West Indian manatees in Florida, Belize, and Puerto Rico as indicated by stable isotope analysis

Feeding preferences of West Indian manatees in Florida, Belize, and Puerto Rico as indicated by stable isotope analysis

Rewriting the history of an extinction—was a population of Steller's sea cows ( Hydrodamalis gigas ) at St Lawrence Island also driven to extinction?

Spatio‐temporal, ontogenetic and sex‐related patterns in resource use of Amazonian manatees across floodplains and estuaries as inferred by δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N isotopic values

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An isotopic assessment of the feeding habits of free-ranging manatees

Cited by 46 publications

References 24 publications

Feeding preferences of West Indian manatees in Florida, Belize, and Puerto Rico as indicated by stable isotope analysis

Feeding preferences of West Indian manatees in Florida, Belize, and Puerto Rico as indicated by stable isotope analysis

Rewriting the history of an extinction—was a population of Steller's sea cows ( Hydrodamalis gigas ) at St Lawrence Island also driven to extinction?

Spatio‐temporal, ontogenetic and sex‐related patterns in resource use of Amazonian manatees across floodplains and estuaries as inferred by δ13C and δ15N isotopic values

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Spatio‐temporal, ontogenetic and sex‐related patterns in resource use of Amazonian manatees across floodplains and estuaries as inferred by δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N isotopic values