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Food resource partitioning between two sympatric temperate wrasses

Food resource partitioning between two sympatric temperate wrasses The present study analysed two sympatric wrasses, Thalassoma pavo and Coris julis, with similar sizes and morphologies, that are widespread in the reef habitats of the Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic coast. Ocean warming has induced the northward movement of T. pavo, whereas C. julis has been moving to deeper habitats. In addition, under conditions of high slope of the sea bottom, T. pavo occupies shallow habitats and C. julis is in greater abundance in deeper habitats. By investigating stomach contents and prey availability in the benthos, we assessed whether the two wrasses exploit food resources by choosing different prey within the same habitat both under co-existence and segregation conditions. The results showed that T. pavo mainly feeds on gammarids and sipunculids, whereas C. julis mainly feeds on Alvania spp. and Paguroidea. The two wrasses also showed an intrinsic partitioning of food resources, independently of the condition of co-existence or segregation and benthic prey availability in the environment. The two wrasses fall in the over dispersion of resource use model, in which species share numerous niche dimensions in a variable manner. Our findings may contribute to exclude a greater trophic competition between these labrid species in a projected warming scenario. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Marine & Freshwater Research CSIRO Publishing

Food resource partitioning between two sympatric temperate wrasses

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References (46)

Publisher
CSIRO Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s). Published by CSIRO Publishing
ISSN
1323-1650
eISSN
1323-1650
DOI
10.1071/MF16363
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The present study analysed two sympatric wrasses, Thalassoma pavo and Coris julis, with similar sizes and morphologies, that are widespread in the reef habitats of the Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic coast. Ocean warming has induced the northward movement of T. pavo, whereas C. julis has been moving to deeper habitats. In addition, under conditions of high slope of the sea bottom, T. pavo occupies shallow habitats and C. julis is in greater abundance in deeper habitats. By investigating stomach contents and prey availability in the benthos, we assessed whether the two wrasses exploit food resources by choosing different prey within the same habitat both under co-existence and segregation conditions. The results showed that T. pavo mainly feeds on gammarids and sipunculids, whereas C. julis mainly feeds on Alvania spp. and Paguroidea. The two wrasses also showed an intrinsic partitioning of food resources, independently of the condition of co-existence or segregation and benthic prey availability in the environment. The two wrasses fall in the over dispersion of resource use model, in which species share numerous niche dimensions in a variable manner. Our findings may contribute to exclude a greater trophic competition between these labrid species in a projected warming scenario.

Journal

Marine & Freshwater ResearchCSIRO Publishing

Published: Jul 27, 2017

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