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Changes in trophic level of Squatina guggenheim with increasing body length: relationships with type, size and trophic level of its prey

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Abstract

The occurrence of changes in the trophic level (TL) of sharks with growth has not been quantified until now. Here length-related changes on Squatina guggenheim Marini trophic level were determined, and shifts in type, size and trophic level of its prey were analysed. Sampling took place during five bottom trawl surveys conducted in the Argentine–Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone during spring (December/1995, October/1997) and fall (March/1997, March–April/1998, May–June/1998), using an Engel bottom-trawl net to capture the sharks. Three length groups were defined based on diet composition and using a cluster analysis (group I, 23–60 cm; group II, 61–80 cm; group III, 81–91 cm L T). An ANOSIM procedure detected significant differences (P < 0.05) in the diet spectrum between the three length groups. The smallest sharks (group I) ingested fish prey ranging from 5 to 21 cm L T, medium sharks (group II) fed on fish prey between 11 and 35 cm L T, and largest sharks (group III) preyed on fish between 13 and 40 cm L T. Diet structure of length groups were discriminated by almost the same prey taxa that characterized them. The increase of S. guggenheim body length promoted a decrease in the relative importance of small pelagic fishes. Contrarily, prey as medium benthopelagic fishes, medium pelagic squid and medium benthopelagic fishes showed an inverse tendency, indicating a broad diet spectrum of adults. Predator-length and prey-length relationship indicated a trend where 44.8% of S. guggenheim diet was integrated by prey <20% of their own body length and 32.8% of their diet was composed by prey >30% of their own length. The increase of mean prey weight was associated with the increase of predator weight and length. Smallest sharks (group I) were identified as secondary consumers (TL < 4) whereas medium sharks (group II) and largest sharks (group III) were placed as tertiary consumers (TL > 4). The study revealed an increase in S. guggenheim TL with shark growth as a consequence of changes on type, size and TL of prey ingested.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank DINARA (Uruguay) for permitting us to generate the database used in this research through the participation of R.V.S and A.C.M. in regular Micropogonias furnieri and Merluccius hubbsi evaluation cruises. We also acknowledge the crew of the RV “Aldebarán” for their assistance. B. Yannicelli, E. Cortés and L. Lucifora provided useful comments to improve the manuscript. The German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademisher Austausch Dienst, DAAD) funded R.V.S. (A/99/14455) and A.C.M. (A/01/17601) through scholarships to conduct graduate studies at the University of Concepción.

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  1. Programa de Doctorado, Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional s/n. Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, CP 952, La Paz, Baja California Sur, México

    Rodolfo Vögler

  2. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rivadavia 1917, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Andrés C. Milessi

  3. Laboratorio de Investigaciones Pesqueras Tropicales, Universidad del Magdalena, Cra. 32 # 22-08, Santa Marta, Colombia

    Luis O. Duarte

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  1. Rodolfo Vögler
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Correspondence to Rodolfo Vögler.

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Vögler, R., Milessi, A.C. & Duarte, L.O. Changes in trophic level of Squatina guggenheim with increasing body length: relationships with type, size and trophic level of its prey. Environ Biol Fish 84, 41–52 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-008-9387-x

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