Antarctic Science
- Antarctic Science / Volume 23 / Issue 02 / February 2011, pp 107-116
- Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2010
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S095410201000091X (About DOI), Published online: 01 December 2010
Biological Sciences
Gut contents and stable isotope analyses of the Antarctic fish, Notothenia coriiceps (Richardson), from two macroalgal communities
Jill P. Zamzowa1 c1, Craig F. Aumacka1, Charles D. Amslera1, James B. McClintocka1, Margaret O. Amslera1 and Bill J. Bakera2
a1 Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1300 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
a2 Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, CHE 205A, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
Abstract
Gut contents studies have shown that Notothenia coriiceps, a prevalent shallow water fish species along the western Antarctic Peninsula, has a highly variable diet. This variability, coupled with small home ranges, suggest that microhabitat may play a role in determining the chief prey items of N. coriiceps. We trapped fish from three sites comprised of two different algal microhabitats around Palmer Station, Antarctica and investigated their diets via gut contents and stable isotope analyses. Gut contents analysis revealed that amphipods were the primary prey item at all three sites, but the distribution of amphipod species eaten varied between sites. Other important prey classes were snails, limpets, algae and fish. Overall, the gut content data suggested that algal microhabitat was less important than geographic location in determining diet. On the other hand, stable isotope analysis indicated that fish from the Palmaria decipiens site were more enriched in both carbon and nitrogen than fish from Desmarestia menziesii sites. Hence, it would appear that in the longer term, algal microhabitat may influence fish diets and trophic relationships.
(Received January 26 2010)
(Accepted July 15 2010)
(Online publication December 01 2010)
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