Stomach content and stable isotope data of the orangeback squid Sthenoteuthis pteropus from samples of METEOR cruises M116, M119 and Maria S. Merian cruise MSM49

Fuente: PANGAEA
Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser: Merten, Veronique, Christiansen, Bernd, Javidpour, Jamileh, Piatkowski, Uwe, Puebla, Oscar, Gasca, Rebeca, Hoving, Henk-Jan T
Format: Dataset Open Access
Sprache:en
Veröffentlicht: PANGAEA 2017
Online-Zugang:
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
_version_ 1867170471614611456
author Merten, Veronique
Christiansen, Bernd
Javidpour, Jamileh
Piatkowski, Uwe
Puebla, Oscar
Gasca, Rebeca
Hoving, Henk-Jan T
author_facet Merten, Veronique
Christiansen, Bernd
Javidpour, Jamileh
Piatkowski, Uwe
Puebla, Oscar
Gasca, Rebeca
Hoving, Henk-Jan T
collection Datos científicos de ciencias marinas y ambientales
contents In the eastern tropical Atlantic, the orangeback flying squid Sthenoteuthis pteropus (Steenstrup 1855) (Cephalopoda, Ommastrephidae) is a dominant species of the epipelagic nekton community. This carnivore squid has a short lifespan and is one of the fastest-growing squids. In this study, we characterise the role of S. pteropus in the pelagic food web of the eastern tropical Atlantic by investigating its diet and the dynamics of its feeding habits throughout its ontogeny and migration. During three expeditions in the eastern tropical Atlantic in 2015, 129 specimens were caught by hand jigging. Stomach content analyses (via visual identification and DNA barcoding) were combined with stable isotope data (delta15N and delta13C) of muscle tissue to describe diet, feeding habits and trophic ecology of S. pteropus. Additionally, stable isotope analyses of incremental samples along the squid's gladius - the chitinous spiniform structure supporting the muscles and organs - were carried out to explore possible diet shifts through ontogeny and migration. Our results show that S. pteropus preys mainly on myctophid fishes (e.g. Myctophum asperum, Myctophum nitidulum, Vinciguerria spp.), but also on other teleost species, cephalopods (e.g. Enoploteuthidae, Bolitinidae, Ommastrephidae), crustaceans and possibly on gelatinous zooplankton as well. The squid shows a highly opportunistic feeding behaviour that includes cannibalism. Our study indicates that the trophic position of S. pteropus may increase by approximately one trophic level from a mantle length of 15 cm to 47 cm. The reconstructed isotope-based feeding chronologies of the gladii revealed high intra- and inter-individual variability in the squid's trophic position and foraging area. These findings are not revealed by diet or muscle tissue stable isotope analysis. This suggests a variable and complex life history involving individual variation and migration. The role of S. pteropus in transferring energy and nutrients from lower to higher trophic levels may be underestimated and important for understanding how a changing ocean impacts food webs in the eastern Atlantic.
format Dataset Open Access
id pangaea_https___doi_org_10_1594_PANGAEA_874974
institution PANGAEA
language en
publishDate 2017
publisher PANGAEA
record_format pangaea
spellingShingle Stomach content and stable isotope data of the orangeback squid Sthenoteuthis pteropus from samples of METEOR cruises M116, M119 and Maria S. Merian cruise MSM49
Merten, Veronique
Christiansen, Bernd
Javidpour, Jamileh
Piatkowski, Uwe
Puebla, Oscar
Gasca, Rebeca
Hoving, Henk-Jan T

In the eastern tropical Atlantic, the orangeback flying squid Sthenoteuthis pteropus (Steenstrup 1855) (Cephalopoda, Ommastrephidae) is a dominant species of the epipelagic nekton community. This carnivore squid has a short lifespan and is one of the fastest-growing squids. In this study, we characterise the role of S. pteropus in the pelagic food web of the eastern tropical Atlantic by investigating its diet and the dynamics of its feeding habits throughout its ontogeny and migration. During three expeditions in the eastern tropical Atlantic in 2015, 129 specimens were caught by hand jigging. Stomach content analyses (via visual identification and DNA barcoding) were combined with stable isotope data (delta15N and delta13C) of muscle tissue to describe diet, feeding habits and trophic ecology of S. pteropus. Additionally, stable isotope analyses of incremental samples along the squid's gladius - the chitinous spiniform structure supporting the muscles and organs - were carried out to explore possible diet shifts through ontogeny and migration. Our results show that S. pteropus preys mainly on myctophid fishes (e.g. Myctophum asperum, Myctophum nitidulum, Vinciguerria spp.), but also on other teleost species, cephalopods (e.g. Enoploteuthidae, Bolitinidae, Ommastrephidae), crustaceans and possibly on gelatinous zooplankton as well. The squid shows a highly opportunistic feeding behaviour that includes cannibalism. Our study indicates that the trophic position of S. pteropus may increase by approximately one trophic level from a mantle length of 15 cm to 47 cm. The reconstructed isotope-based feeding chronologies of the gladii revealed high intra- and inter-individual variability in the squid's trophic position and foraging area. These findings are not revealed by diet or muscle tissue stable isotope analysis. This suggests a variable and complex life history involving individual variation and migration. The role of S. pteropus in transferring energy and nutrients from lower to higher trophic levels may be underestimated and important for understanding how a changing ocean impacts food webs in the eastern Atlantic.
title Stomach content and stable isotope data of the orangeback squid Sthenoteuthis pteropus from samples of METEOR cruises M116, M119 and Maria S. Merian cruise MSM49
topic
url https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.874974