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Niche overlap and trophic resource partitioning of two sympatric batoids co-inhabiting an estuarine system in southeast Australia

2011; Wiley; Volume: 27; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1439-0426.2011.01819.x

1439-0426

Jonah L. Yick, S Tracey, R. W. G. White,

Marine and fisheries research

Journal of Applied IchthyologyVolume 27, Issue 5 p. 1272-1277 Niche overlap and trophic resource partitioning of two sympatric batoids co-inhabiting an estuarine system in southeast Australia J. L. Yick, J. L. Yick Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Inland Fisheries Service, New Norfolk, Tasmania, AustraliaSearch for more papers by this authorS. R. Tracey, S. R. Tracey Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, AustraliaSearch for more papers by this authorR. W. G. White, R. W. G. White Department of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, AustraliaSearch for more papers by this author J. L. Yick, J. L. Yick Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Inland Fisheries Service, New Norfolk, Tasmania, AustraliaSearch for more papers by this authorS. R. Tracey, S. R. Tracey Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, AustraliaSearch for more papers by this authorR. W. G. White, R. W. G. White Department of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, AustraliaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 18 August 2011 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0426.2011.01819.xCitations: 23 Author's address: Jonah Yick, Inland Fisheries Service, 17 Back River Rd, New Norfolk, Tasmania 7140, Australia.E-mail: [email protected] Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Summary Elasmobranchs play an important role within the trophic structure of marine ecosystems, but there are relatively few studies published on the feeding ecology of these species. Reported herein is the feeding ecology and trophic resource partitioning of two sympatric batoid species, Urolophus cruciatus and Narcine tasmaniensis from southeast Australia. The diet of males and females of both species was similar, suggesting no sex-specific dietary preferences. Ontogenetic changes in diet were observed from the diets of both species: as the body size increased, the proportion consumed of crustacea to polychaeta decreased. A relatively high degree of niche overlap (70%) was detected between the trophic resources of the two species. The way in which the predators partitioned the resources, however, was significantly different. U. cruciatus fed predominately on small benthic crustaceans (amphipods and decapods), while N. tasmaniensis displayed a preference towards Maldanidae polychaetes. Therefore, although U. cruciatus and N. tasmaniensis both feed predominately on benthic invertebrates, they specialise on different taxa. This trophic resource partitioning contributes to the biodiversity of the region by facilitating the coexistence of these sympatric species. References Amundsen, P. A.; Gabler, H. M.; Staldvik, F. J., 1996: A new approach to graphical analysis of feeding strategy from stomach contents data – modification of the Costello (1990) method. J. Fish Biol. 48, 607– 614. Bethea, D. M.; Buckel, J. A.; Carlson, J. K., 2004: Foraging ecology of the early life stages of four sympatric shark species. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 268, 245– 264. Braccini, J. M., 2008: Feeding ecology of two high-order predators from south-eastern Australia: the coastal broadnose and the deepwater sharpnose sevengill sharks. Mar. 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