Ontogenetic, Sexual, and Monthly Niche Segregation of Sepia esculenta in the Northern East China Sea Revealed by Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotopes.

Publisher: Springer-Verlag New York Inc Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 100892712 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1436-2236 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14362228 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Mar Biotechnol (NY) Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: New York, NY : Springer-Verlag New York Inc., c1999-

Nitrogen Isotopes*/analysis ; Carbon Isotopes*/analysis ; Ecosystem* ; Seasons* ; Food Chain*; Animals ; China ; Female ; Male ; Decapodiformes/metabolism ; Oceans and Seas

Golden cuttlefish play a significant role in the food web of the East and Yellow Seas and are a valuable fishery resource in Chinese coastal waters. Samples of golden cuttlefish were obtained from the northern East China Sea between September 2021 and March 2022, and stable isotope methods were utilized in this study to examine the variations in the forage ecology of golden cuttlefish. Our findings reveal dynamic shifts in carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes (δ ¹³ C and δ ¹⁵ N), highlighting intricate foraging strategies tailored to growth and environmental changes. A notable trend emerges: an initial growth-linked rise in δ ¹³ C and δ ¹⁵ N enrichment, followed by seasonal fluctuations mirroring seasonal food availability. The ontogenetic niche evolution displays striking habitat shifts and trophic level escalation in small mantle length stages, transitioning to niche overlap and subtle trophic shifts later on. Sex-specific differences emerge, with females occupying higher trophic levels than males in most samples. This comprehensive study underscores the complexity and adaptability of golden cuttlefish feeding ecology, inviting further inquiry into their intricate relationships within the marine ecosystem.
(© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

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A1-2006-23-200206 Ministry of Education; A2-2006-23-200308 Startup Foundation for Young Teachers of Shanghai Ocean University; 2023YFD2401305 National Key Research and Development Program of China

Keywords: Sepia esculenta; Feeding ecology; Stable isotope; Trophic niche

0 (Nitrogen Isotopes)
0 (Carbon Isotopes)

Date Created: 20240804 Date Completed: 20241015 Latest Revision: 20241015

20241016

10.1007/s10126-024-10352-6

39098943