Trophic ecology of European hake (Merlucius merlucius) larvae by stable isotopes analysis influenced by seasonal variability of oceanographic conditions off NW Galician waters.
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1
Oceanographic Center of Málaga, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), Spain
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2
Oceanographic Center of Vigo, Spanish Institute of Oceanography, Spain
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3
Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Spain
A combined study of environmental variables, and stable isotope analysis (SIA) was performed to compare the trophic ecology of European hake (Merlucius merlucius) larvae from northwestern Iberian shelf off Galicia (NW Spain) during the two main contrasting spawning seasons, spring and summer 2012. Distinct oceanographic conditions of each seasons influenced nutrient uptake from the pelagic food web according to the differences observed in nitrogen isotopic signatures not only in larvae but also in micro- and meso-zooplankton fraction analyzed. Isotopic niche widths were estimated using SIBER package (Stable isotope Bayesian ellipses in R) from 39 and 130 larvae form spring and summer respectively. Estimated Standard Ellipses Areas (SEAc) were discussed based on contrasting spawning scenarios with different isotopic baselines. Higher isotopic niche width was estimated in the spring hake larvae according to higher productivity and food availability, suggesting a more euriphagous diet in spring condition comparing to summer season. Lower values together with high variability of 15N in both plankton and larvae were found during spring coinciding with unusually strong upwelling. Inversely, higher nitrogen isotopic signatures were observed during summer suggesting strong nitrogen limitation for primary producers during this season. Distinct carbon isotopic signature reveals differences in the origin of food sources in spring and summer. Both nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes values vs size or weight relationships observed in spring and summer suggest an ontogenetic diet shift in hake larvae.
Acknowledgements
This study was funded by CRAMER-MICINN.
Keywords:
trophic ecology,
European hake (Merluccius merluccius),
Larvae,
seaonal variability,
NW Galician waters,
Isotopes analysis
Conference:
XX Iberian Symposium on Marine Biology Studies (SIEBM XX) , Braga, Portugal, 9 Sep - 12 Sep, 2019.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Ecology, Biodiversity and Vulnerable Ecosystems
Citation:
Carrion
RL,
Rodriguez
AC,
Ervas
JQ,
De Rojas
AH,
Lopez
JR,
Carmen
PA and
Garcia
AG
(2019). Trophic ecology of European hake (Merlucius merlucius) larvae by stable isotopes analysis influenced by seasonal variability of oceanographic conditions off NW Galician waters..
Front. Mar. Sci.
Conference Abstract:
XX Iberian Symposium on Marine Biology Studies (SIEBM XX) .
doi: 10.3389/conf.fmars.2019.08.00143
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Received:
14 May 2019;
Published Online:
27 Sep 2019.
*
Correspondence:
Dr. Piñeiro A Carmen, Oceanographic Center of Vigo, Spanish Institute of Oceanography, Vigo, 36390, Spain, carmen.pineiro@ieo.es