Abstract

We aim to understand ontogenetic shifts in habitat use and feeding patterns by 2 fish species, Lutjanus fulviflamma and L. ehrenbergii, within a tropical seascape in East Africa. Stomach contents and stable isotope signatures of muscle tissues (delta C-13 and delta N-15) were compared between and within species. Fish of all life stages and potential food items were sampled from mangrove creeks, seagrass beds, and coral reefs around Mafia Island, Tanzania. Due to similarities in morphology between species, correct species identity was confirmed using genetic barcoding (mtDNA, partial sequence of cytochrome oxidase subunit I [COI]). Stable isotope analysis in R (based on mixing models) confirmed that delta C-13 and delta N-15 values in L. fulviflamma and L. ehrenbergii reflected those of prey items caught in different habitats. Diets and mean delta C-13 and delta N-15 values of muscle tissue differed between life stages of fish, indicating ontogenetic changes in habitat and diet. L. fulviflamma and L. ehrenbergii differed in diet and delta C-13 and delta N-15 values of muscle tissue, although they overlapped in habitat use, suggesting food resource partitioning between the 2 species. Furthermore, diet overlap indexes were low between subadult species in mangrove and seagrass or coral habitats. L. fulviflamma displayed a diet shift with decreasing importance of small crustaceans in juveniles and an increasing importance of prey fishes in subadults and adults. L. ehrenbergii showed the opposite pattern. The study verifies feeding interlinkage within the mangrove-seagrass-coral reef continuum in Mafia Island by providing strong evidence of ontogenetic migration. Understanding these connections will enhance our ability to manage tropical seascapes, and highlights the need to include multiple habitats in marine protected areas.

Keywords

Stable isotopes; Stomach content; Ontogenetic shifts; Connectivity; Resource partitioning; Coral reef; Seagrass; Mangrove

Published in

Marine Ecology Progress Series
2013, Volume: 477, pages: 201-215
Publisher: INTER-RESEARCH

SLU Authors

• Berkström, Charlotte

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10171

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/83423