Journal
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
Volume 451, Issue -, Pages 175-185Publisher
INTER-RESEARCH
DOI: 10.3354/meps09604
Keywords
Diet; Demersal fish; Gadoids; Feeding ecology; Trophic level; Young-of-the-year
Categories
Funding
- Norwegian Research Council (NFR) [190360]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
We investigated stable nitrogen (delta N-15) and carbon (delta C-13) isotope signatures in haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus in Ullsfjord, Norway, and found evidence of an ontogenetic shift as a result of growth but in the absence of other morphological changes. Stable isotope signatures and trophic level (TL) changed significantly from a pelagic signature and a low TL to a more benthic associated signature and higher TL when the fish were ca. 20 cm in length. The stable isotope signatures of haddock were compared with those of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua from the same system, other main demersal fish species in the fjord, and haddock from the adjacent fjord, Sorfjord. Our results indicate that both haddock and cod are opportunistic feeders, feeding on the abundant crustaceans in the fjords. Several of the large demersal fish species in Ullsfjord had very similar stable isotope signatures, which reflected their predation on similar prey types.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available