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Trophic relationships among animals associated with drifting wrack
journal contribution
posted on 2018-01-01, 00:00 authored by R J Baring, Rebecca LesterRebecca Lester, P G FairweatherWrack accumulates commonly in surf zones of sandy beaches and can be a semipermanent feature. Very few studies have investigated the trophic pathways associated with wrack accumulations in sandy beach surf zones, despite their potential importance to nearshore food webs. In the present study, we were specifically interested in determining the fish-wrack trophic associations in the nearshore. Macrophytes, macroinvertebrates and fish were sampled from drifting wrack at two sites with different macrophyte compositions (i.e. algae v. an algae-seagrass mix) in South Australia. The gut contents of fish were sampled, and the δ 13 C and δ 15 N stable isotope signatures of fish, macroinvertebrates and macrophytes were analysed. Using both the stable isotope and diet data, we identified that fish are feeding among wrack accumulations, but some unexplained trophic pathways suggest that fish are also likely to be foraging over multiple habitats elsewhere for food. In contrast, there was more evidence that grazing macroinvertebrates may be feeding on and around macrophytes within the accumulations, as well as using them as habitat. Thus, the present study established some baseline trophic pathways associated with wrack accumulations in sandy beach surf zones. Given the modest evidence for use of wrack as a food source, the lower trophic levels of the food webs identified remain unknown and should be an area for future research.
History
Journal
Marine and freshwater researchVolume
69Issue
8Pagination
1248 - 1258Publisher
CSIRO PublishingLocation
Clayton, Vic.Publisher DOI
ISSN
1323-1650Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2018, CSIROUsage metrics
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No categories selectedKeywords
dietsgut contentsisotopesSouth Australiatrophic fractionationScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicinePhysical SciencesFisheriesLimnologyMarine & Freshwater BiologyOceanographydelta C-13delta N-15STABLE-ISOTOPE ANALYSESFOOD-WEBSEAGRASS BEDSRELATIVE IMPORTANCEFEEDING AREASCARBONFISHMACROPHYTESDELTA-N-15MANGROVES
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