Dietary ontogeny of the blue shark, Prionace glauca, based on the analysis of δ13C and δ15N in vertebrae

Estupiñán-Montaño, Colombo; Galván‐Magaña, Felipe; Sánchez-González, Alberto; Elorriaga‐Verplancken, Fernando R.; Huertas, António Delgado; Páez‐Rosas, Diego

doi:10.1007/s00227-019-3550-0

Cited by 16 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…This raises the possibility that nursery areas may be distinguished based on the isotopic composition of a vertebrae's edge of neonates and young of the year who are still feeding in the nursery area. In contrast, the isotopic composition of the vertebral tissue laid down after the BM in oceanic habitat-dwelling sharks that undergo intrauterine placental feeding, such as the oceanic White Tip Shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) and the Blue Shark (Prionace glauca), appears to solely follow the maternal contribution and can thus be used to infer feeding region, rather than nursery areas of the young (Estupiñań-Montaño et al, 2019;Shen et al, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Stable isotope analyses (SIA) of fish tissues are powerful intrinsic tracers that have contributed to the ecological understanding of highly migratory and protected shark species (Estrada et al, 2003;MacNeil et al, 2005;Hussey et al, 2012;Bird et al, 2018). Chronometric structures such as the mineralized vertebral cartilage of several shark species have been used as chemical archives to characterize life-history traits (Hussey et al, 2012), infer ontogenetic changes in habitat and feeding habits (Estupiñań-Montaño et al, 2019;Estupiñań-Montaño et al, 2021a), reconstruct environmental histories (Carlisle et al, 2015), and track movements between oceanic and coastal marine ecosystems (Carlisle et al, 2015;Estupiñań-Montaño et al, 2021b). The d 13 C and d 15 N values of subsamples taken from the recently deposited vertebral edge of sharks reflects local foraging, and in the case of young sharks, the material laid down after the birth mark indicates a mixture of both maternal feeding from eggs within the womb and maternal supply (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The d 13 C and d 15 N values of subsamples taken from the recently deposited vertebral edge of sharks reflects local foraging, and in the case of young sharks, the material laid down after the birth mark indicates a mixture of both maternal feeding from eggs within the womb and maternal supply (e.g. uterine milk, yolk sac placenta) in late-term embryos (Estupiñań-Montaño et al, 2019;Tomita et al, 2022), as well as foods consumed in their nursery habitats as neonates (Estrada et al, 2006;Shen et al, 2021). In older sharks, determination of isotopic values of vertebrae subsamples taken longitudinally along the axis of outward radial growth allows changes in feeding habits and foraging regions to be characterized throughout ontogeny (Estrada et al, 2006;Kim et al, 2012;Estupiñań-Montaño et al, 2019;Estupiñań-Montaño et al, 2021b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…uterine milk, yolk sac placenta) in late-term embryos (Estupiñań-Montaño et al, 2019;Tomita et al, 2022), as well as foods consumed in their nursery habitats as neonates (Estrada et al, 2006;Shen et al, 2021). In older sharks, determination of isotopic values of vertebrae subsamples taken longitudinally along the axis of outward radial growth allows changes in feeding habits and foraging regions to be characterized throughout ontogeny (Estrada et al, 2006;Kim et al, 2012;Estupiñań-Montaño et al, 2019;Estupiñań-Montaño et al, 2021b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Inferring habitat use of the Pacific White Shark using vertebral chemistry

et al. 2023

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The conservation and management of highly migratory sharks relies on understanding age-related movements and nursery habitat utilization. We reconstructed the habitat use and migratory history of young White Sharks (Carcharodon carcharias), a highly protected species, by utilizing natural chemical tracers (element:Ca ratios and stable isotope analysis, SIA) in vertebral cartilage growth bands. Two nursery areas in the northeastern Pacific are known, but migration patterns of immature White Sharks within the Gulf of California (GC) and natal philopatry are poorly understood. Vertebrae from coastal Mexican artisanal fisheries off central Baja California in the Pacific (12 neonates and juveniles; 139-280 cm total length) and the GC (3 subadults; 289-355 cm TL) were analyzed to characterize (1) trophic histories from collagen δ13C and δ15N values, and (2) in utero patterns and post-birth environmental histories from element:Ca time-series. Mean δ15N values from vertebral edges of GC sharks, representing the most recent feeding, was +5‰ higher than in the Pacific, reflecting the intense denitrification that permeates the regional food web and supporting SIA as tracers of migration between regions. A subadult from the GC likely resided within the system throughout its life, and two subadults migrated into the GC. Most neonate and juvenile sharks caught in the Pacific had SIA that did not overlap with those of the GC, but a single subadult likely migrated to the GC. Element:Ca ratios displayed ontogenetic trends, with Li:Ca, Zn:Ca, and Ba:Ca significantly higher before the birth mark in sharks captured in the GC. Edge values were significantly higher in Zn:Ca and Ba:Ca in the GC compared to the Pacific, suggesting elemental ratios may serve as tracers of migration between regions. Subadult sharks collected from GC displayed elevated maternal Zn:Ca and Ba:Ca, suggesting mothers may have resided in the GC for an extensive period pre-birth. Some White Sharks may reside within the GC from birth until at least the subadult stage (ca. 3 m TL), and there may be an unidentified nursery. Chemical tracers, coupled with genomic and tagging studies, should improve understanding of the importance of the GC to White Shark populations in the northeast Pacific.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Inferring habitat use of the Pacific White Shark using vertebral chemistry

et al. 2023

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“…Some species are highly migratory and move between coastal and pelagic habitats, that are used throughout ontogeny for nursery, feeding, mating, or parturition (Heupel et al, 2007;Block et al, 2011;Domeier and Nasby-Lucas, 2013;Carlisle et al, 2015a;Nasby-Lucas et al, 2019;Nosal et al, 2019). Ontogenetic habitat changes are commonly accompanied by switches in their diet (Malpica-Cruz et al, 2013;Carlisle et al, 2015b;Estupiñán-Montaño et al, 2019;Matich et al, 2019). So, characterizing the trophic relationships of sharks throughout their life cycle is needed for understanding their ecological role in each ecosystem they inhabit.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stable Isotope Analysis of Juvenile White Sharks Inside a Nursery Area Reveals Foraging in Demersal-Inshore Habitats and Trophic Overlap With Sympatric Sharks

et al. 2021

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Knowledge about top predators’ trophic ecology is crucial for defining their role in ecosystems, understanding habitat preferences, characterizing life stage-specific feeding habits, and evaluating their interaction with fisheries. In the northeastern Pacific, white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) occupy coastal habitats during the early life stages, including Bahía Sebastián Vizcaíno (BSV) in Mexico, which is a known nursery area. Although BSV presumably provides high prey abundance, the trophic ecology of immature white sharks is poorly understood. Carbon and nitrogen bulk stable isotope analyses (SIA) were used to explore the trophic relationship of early life stages with their potential prey and to infer dietary overlap with sympatric sharks, while SIA of amino acids were used to estimate trophic position. Muscle samples from young white sharks and inshore demersal prey commonly found in their stomach contents were sampled. Demersal prey and literature-derived isotope ratios for pelagic and offshore species were incorporated into mixing models with a Bayesian framework to estimate their contribution to white shark tissues. Nearshore demersal prey had the highest contribution for all life stages (between 35 and 47%), consistent with previous reports based on gut content analysis. The contribution of pelagic (between 26 and 37%) and offshore (between 14 and 32%) prey was smaller and suggests potential periodic changes in foraging grounds and the presence of a maternal-derived isotopic signature. A high contribution of demersal prey indicates a high level of interaction with local fisheries that target those species and catch white sharks incidentally and is consistent with immature shark movement patterns. Isotope ratios of two sympatric sharks, smooth hammerhead Sphyrna zygaena and copper sharks Carcharhinus brachyurus, were used to estimate the overlap in isotopic niche space. Immature white sharks had the smallest isotopic niche, while the highest was for copper sharks. Overlap was greatest between white sharks and hammerheads (∼45%), while overlap with copper sharks was limited (<20%), suggesting less potential for competition. Trophic position estimates were similar to those previously reported for the species. These results highlight the importance of coastal demersal prey heavily targeted by local fisheries for the diet of young white sharks and support the importance of BSV as a nursery habitat.

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Retrospective stable isotopes of vertebrae reveal sexual ontogenetic patterns and trophic ecology in oceanic whitetip shark, Carcharhinus longimanus

Shen

Gong

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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There is a common phenomenon in nature whereby some animals have differences in their ontogenetic changes in dietary preferences between sexes, especially apex predators. These reflect changes in the needs of development during their lifetimes. Apex predators potentially have diverse dietary niches and a large impact on the trophic dynamics within ecosystems. However, the difference in life history between males and females often leads to increased difficulty in management and conservation. In this study, 25 oceanic whitetip sharks, Carcharhinus longimanus, were collected from the central and eastern tropical Pacific. Retrospective stable isotope analysis of vertebrae was used to evaluate the potential ontogenetic differences in feeding habits and niche width between sexes. Results showed that C. longimanus had a wide range of δ13C values (−18.1 to −12.3‰) and δ15N values (8.9–14.8‰). However, males and females had similar trophic positions with large niche overlap at similar growth stages. Both sexes had increasing δ13C values but relatively constant δ15N values along the vertebrae. These results indicated that male and female C. longimanus may share similar feeding strategies and movement patterns. The results presented in this study enhance our understanding of sexual ontogenetic patterns and ecological role of C. longimanus and highlighted the applicability of vertebrae for characterizing shark life‐history traits.

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Dietary ontogeny of the blue shark, Prionace glauca, based on the analysis of δ13C and δ15N in vertebrae

Cited by 16 publications

References 62 publications

Inferring habitat use of the Pacific White Shark using vertebral chemistry

Inferring habitat use of the Pacific White Shark using vertebral chemistry

Stable Isotope Analysis of Juvenile White Sharks Inside a Nursery Area Reveals Foraging in Demersal-Inshore Habitats and Trophic Overlap With Sympatric Sharks

Retrospective stable isotopes of vertebrae reveal sexual ontogenetic patterns and trophic ecology in oceanic whitetip shark, Carcharhinus longimanus

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