The cephalopod prey of the Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddellii, a biological sampler of the Antarctic marine ecosystem
Weddell seals, Leptonychotes weddellii, are important apex predators in the food web of the Antarctic marine ecosystem. However, detailed information on their trophic relationships with cephalopods is scarce. Moreover, cephalopods play a key role in the marine environment, but knowledge of their fee...
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:512053 2023-05-15T13:49:32+02:00 The cephalopod prey of the Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddellii, a biological sampler of the Antarctic marine ecosystem Negri, A. Daneri, G. A. Ceia, F. Vieira, R. Cherel, Y. Coria, N. R. Corbalán, A. Xavier, J. C. 2016-03 text http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/512053/ https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/512053/1/Negri%20et%20al%20-%20The%20cephalopod%20prey%20of%20the%20Weddell%20Seal.pdf https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1794-9 en eng Springer https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/512053/1/Negri%20et%20al%20-%20The%20cephalopod%20prey%20of%20the%20Weddell%20Seal.pdf Negri, A.; Daneri, G. A.; Ceia, F.; Vieira, R.; Cherel, Y.; Coria, N. R.; Corbalán, A.; Xavier, J. C. orcid:0000-0002-9621-6660 . 2016 The cephalopod prey of the Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddellii, a biological sampler of the Antarctic marine ecosystem. Polar Biology, 39 (3). 561-564. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1794-9 <https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1794-9> Publication - Article PeerReviewed 2016 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1794-9 2023-02-04T19:42:16Z Weddell seals, Leptonychotes weddellii, are important apex predators in the food web of the Antarctic marine ecosystem. However, detailed information on their trophic relationships with cephalopods is scarce. Moreover, cephalopods play a key role in the marine environment, but knowledge of their feeding habits is limited by lack of data. Here, we have combined the use of this seal as a biological sampler together with measurements of the stable isotopic signature of the beaks of their cephalopod prey. Thus, the aims of the present study were: (1) to examine in detail the cephalopod portion of the diet of Weddell seals by means of scat analysis and (2) to assess the habitat use and trophic level of the different cephalopod prey taxa identified. From January to February 2009, a total of 48 faecal droppings were collected at Hope Bay, Antarctic Peninsula. Cephalopods were mainly represented by beaks (n = 83) which were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Furthermore, subsamples of beaks were separated for further isotopic analysis. Relative abundance of stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) was determined by continuous-flow isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. Cephalopods were represented uniquely by octopods of the subfamily Eledoninae. Pareledone turqueti was the dominant prey species followed by the papillated Pareledone species group and Adelieledone polymorpha. We conclude that Weddell seals preyed primarily on benthic prey resources. Furthermore, the relatively similar δ13C and δ15N values in beaks of the three octopod prey taxa suggest that these share the same type of habitat and occupy similar trophic level positions. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Polar Biology Weddell Seal Weddell Seals Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Antarctic The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Weddell Hope Bay ENVELOPE(-57.038,-57.038,-63.403,-63.403) Polar Biology 39 3 561 564 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
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ftnerc |
language |
English |
description |
Weddell seals, Leptonychotes weddellii, are important apex predators in the food web of the Antarctic marine ecosystem. However, detailed information on their trophic relationships with cephalopods is scarce. Moreover, cephalopods play a key role in the marine environment, but knowledge of their feeding habits is limited by lack of data. Here, we have combined the use of this seal as a biological sampler together with measurements of the stable isotopic signature of the beaks of their cephalopod prey. Thus, the aims of the present study were: (1) to examine in detail the cephalopod portion of the diet of Weddell seals by means of scat analysis and (2) to assess the habitat use and trophic level of the different cephalopod prey taxa identified. From January to February 2009, a total of 48 faecal droppings were collected at Hope Bay, Antarctic Peninsula. Cephalopods were mainly represented by beaks (n = 83) which were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Furthermore, subsamples of beaks were separated for further isotopic analysis. Relative abundance of stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) was determined by continuous-flow isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. Cephalopods were represented uniquely by octopods of the subfamily Eledoninae. Pareledone turqueti was the dominant prey species followed by the papillated Pareledone species group and Adelieledone polymorpha. We conclude that Weddell seals preyed primarily on benthic prey resources. Furthermore, the relatively similar δ13C and δ15N values in beaks of the three octopod prey taxa suggest that these share the same type of habitat and occupy similar trophic level positions. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Negri, A. Daneri, G. A. Ceia, F. Vieira, R. Cherel, Y. Coria, N. R. Corbalán, A. Xavier, J. C. |
spellingShingle |
Negri, A. Daneri, G. A. Ceia, F. Vieira, R. Cherel, Y. Coria, N. R. Corbalán, A. Xavier, J. C. The cephalopod prey of the Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddellii, a biological sampler of the Antarctic marine ecosystem |
author_facet |
Negri, A. Daneri, G. A. Ceia, F. Vieira, R. Cherel, Y. Coria, N. R. Corbalán, A. Xavier, J. C. |
author_sort |
Negri, A. |
title |
The cephalopod prey of the Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddellii, a biological sampler of the Antarctic marine ecosystem |
title_short |
The cephalopod prey of the Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddellii, a biological sampler of the Antarctic marine ecosystem |
title_full |
The cephalopod prey of the Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddellii, a biological sampler of the Antarctic marine ecosystem |
title_fullStr |
The cephalopod prey of the Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddellii, a biological sampler of the Antarctic marine ecosystem |
title_full_unstemmed |
The cephalopod prey of the Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddellii, a biological sampler of the Antarctic marine ecosystem |
title_sort |
cephalopod prey of the weddell seal, leptonychotes weddellii, a biological sampler of the antarctic marine ecosystem |
publisher |
Springer |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/512053/ https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/512053/1/Negri%20et%20al%20-%20The%20cephalopod%20prey%20of%20the%20Weddell%20Seal.pdf https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1794-9 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-57.038,-57.038,-63.403,-63.403) |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Weddell Hope Bay |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Weddell Hope Bay |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Polar Biology Weddell Seal Weddell Seals |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Polar Biology Weddell Seal Weddell Seals |
op_relation |
https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/512053/1/Negri%20et%20al%20-%20The%20cephalopod%20prey%20of%20the%20Weddell%20Seal.pdf Negri, A.; Daneri, G. A.; Ceia, F.; Vieira, R.; Cherel, Y.; Coria, N. R.; Corbalán, A.; Xavier, J. C. orcid:0000-0002-9621-6660 . 2016 The cephalopod prey of the Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddellii, a biological sampler of the Antarctic marine ecosystem. Polar Biology, 39 (3). 561-564. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1794-9 <https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1794-9> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1794-9 |
container_title |
Polar Biology |
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39 |
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3 |
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561 |
op_container_end_page |
564 |
_version_ |
1766251511380180992 |