Using fatty acid analysis to elucidate the feeding habits of Southern Ocean mesopelagic fish |
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Authors: | Gabriele Stowasser David W Pond Martin A Collins |
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Institution: | (1) British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB30ET, UK |
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Abstract: | Fatty acid biomarkers were used to investigate the feeding ecology of 17 mesopelagic fish species occurring in the Southern
Ocean. Fatty acid signatures of species where little or no dietary information exists were compared to fatty acid signatures
of species of known diets in order to elucidate their trophic position. Principal component analysis grouped species of known
diets into two clusters with amphipods and copepods comprising the main prey species, respectively. Although the majority
of species of unknown diet were grouped with either of these feeding guilds, a third cluster comprising only Gymnoscopelus bolini was identified suggesting a significantly different diet for this species. Electrona antarctica also exhibited significant changes in fatty acid signatures with size. Furthermore, discriminant analysis of the four most
abundant species classified species with a 90% success rate thus validating the usefulness of fatty acid signatures when trying
to resolve the trophic position of species where no or little dietary information exists. |
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