Habitat Selection Important for Red Snapper Feeding Ecology in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

The present study compared Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus feeding ecology among seasons, sizes, and natural reefs, and between natural and artificial reefs located on the Louisiana shelf edge. As low‐quality diets may hinder growth, reduce condition, and lead to poor reproductive output, information on diets for various habitat types occupied by Red Snapper is critical. This study utilized both stomach content analysis and nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) stable isotope analysis of muscle tissue. Fishes dominated Red Snapper diets at all sites, in all seasons, and generally for all size‐classes. A high biomass of zooplankton was consumed at the artificial reef area and during spring. The largest natural reef provided the widest diversity of prey items, and there was little overlap in prey species consumed between natural and artificial reef habitats. Higher δ15N and lower δ13C values were found for Red Snapper at the artificial reef area, and contrary to the diet results, distinct isotopic niches were found between natural reefs. Differences in Red Snapper isotopic niches between natural reefs indicate that individuals may remain in residence on a specific reef for an extended period. Red Snapper at natural reefs were found to feed on and above the reef, whereas feeding at artificial reefs predominantly occurred on the surrounding seafloor and up in the water column. The quality of habitats underlying reefs is important, as Red Snapper diets reflected the substrate at the occupied reefs. In the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, large, complex natural reefs may provide higher habitat quality for Red Snapper with respect to prey resources than artificial reefs located on mud substrates. Determining which habitats provide high‐quality prey resources for Red Snapper in the Gulf of Mexico may assist decisions on policies and regulations for habitat protection as well as decisions on the future placement of artificial reefs.

Habitat‐Specific Reproductive Potential of Red Snapper: A Comparison of Artificial and Natural Reefs in the Western Gulf of Mexico

“…; Schwartzkopf and Cowan ; Schwartzkopf et al. ) and previous literature stating that reduced fecundity can be linked to poor diet and poor condition (Marteinsdottir and Begg ; Rideout et al. ).…”

“…). The GSI values were arcsine–square root transformed to correct for ratio data (Gotelli and Ellison ) and were then transformed (1/ Y ) to satisfy assumptions (Venables and Ripley ). Tukey contrasts were used for pairwise comparisons when ANOVA detected significance among months (Hothorn et al.…”

FEEDING HABITS OF <i>Lutjanus synagris</i> (TELEOSTEI: LUTJANIDAE) IN THE AMAZON COAST OF THE NORTHEAST REGION OF BRAZIL

“…Moreover, the digestion degree is probably related to the temperature because the increase in temperature increases the metabolism of the animal (Lolis and Andrian, 1996). According to Kamukuru and Mgaya (2004), Schwartzkopf et al (2017) the amount of food consumed by Lutjanidae species is clearly influenced by the parameters such as tide, time of day, and place of capture. Juárez-Camargo et al (2020) analyzing the variability of the eating habits of L. synagris and L. griseus on the coast of Campeche obtained a low repletion index (30%) and a moderate degree of digestion of the items, corroborating that digestion also it is influenced by the number of acids secreted in the stomachs and by the presence of a much shorter intestine in carnivorous fish, making digestion faster (Lagler et al, 1997).…”

Sheepshead Foraging Patterns at Oil and Gas Platforms in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

“…; Schwartzkopf et al. ). Recent studies have begun to document the magnitude of secondary productivity at platforms (Beaver et al.…”

“…; Foss ; Schwartzkopf et al. ) and, to a lesser degree, Gray Triggerfish Balistes capriscus (Beaver ; Daigle et al. ) and Blue Runners Caranx crysos (Keenan et al.…”