Abstract
Toothed cetaceans represent a diverse and important component in poorly studied pelagic food webs. We used the variation in δ13C and δ15N values in tooth dentin and bone collagen sampled from 185 specimens of 23 species (families Delphinidae, Physeteridae, Kogiidae, Phocoenidae, and Ziphiidae) stranded in the western South Atlantic Ocean (WSAO) to estimate the isotopic niche width and assess the interspecific isotopic niche overlap. Two gradients of increasing δ13C values among species were evidenced: ocean-coast and high-to-low latitudes. Variation in δ13C and δ15N values indicated the existence of at least four trophic and habitat-related guilds: neritic high trophic-level predators (Pseudorca crassidens, Tursiops truncatus gephyreus, T. truncatus truncatus and Phocoena spinnipinis); oceanic intermediate trophic-level predators (Orcinus orca, Steno bredanensis, Kogia breviceps, Lagenodelphis hosei, Physeter macrocephalus, Delphinus delphis and Stenella frontalis), oceanic low trophic-level predators (Grampus griseus, P. crassidens—mass stranded group, Mesoplodon grayi, M. densirostris, Ziphius cavirostris, Globicephala melas, S. coeruleoalba, and K. sima), all from the subtropics, and a temperate/polar grou** of neritic/oceanic low trophic-level predators (Berardius arnuxii, M. layardii, M. hectori and P. dioptrica). Furthermore, our results also suggest the occurrence of putative ecotypes of O. orca and P. crassidens. The isotopic niche width was highly variable among species, with high niche overlap among several oceanic taxa. The results of the present study suggest a wide variation in trophic position, habitat and, therefore, the ecological role of different odontocete species in the WSAO ecosystems.
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The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, RC de Lima, and can be obtained upon reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
We are very grateful to the staff and students of ECOMEGA for logistical and field support throughout the years. We also thank Dr. Maria C. Pinedo and Lic. Hugo P. Castello, who started the marine mammal stranding monitoring in the region; and the Centro Integrado de Análises—CIA–FURG (funded by Finep-CT-INFRA, CAPES Pró-Equipamentos, and MCTI-CNPq-SisNano2.0) for the analysis performed. Financial support for fieldwork was provided by Yaqu Pacha and FUNBIO. The National Council for Technological and Scientific Development and Technological (CNPq) also provided funds for stable isotope analysis (Edital Universal—CNPq grant no. 425890/2018-0). CNPq provided research fellowships to E.R.S. (PQ 310597/2018-8) and S.B. (PQ 315365/2020-0). This article is part of A.C.C. Tatsch’s Master of Science Thesis in Biological Oceanography (Graduation Course in Biological Oceanography—IO—FURG, RS, Brazil) under the supervision of S. Botta and E. R. Secchi. The Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) provided access to scientific publications through the ‘Portal de Periódicos’. We also thank the resources provided by CAPES (Proex-Auxpe) to support the Graduate Program in Biological Oceanography. This study is a contribution of the Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha (ECOMEGA/CNPq) research group and the Brazilian National Institute of Science and Technology—INCT-Biodiversidade da Amazônia Azul (CNPq proc. 405999/2022-4).
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SB and ES contributed to the study conception, design and funding acquisition. Sample collection was performed by all authors. Sample preparation and analysis were performed by ACT, RL and SB. The first draft of the manuscript was written by ACT and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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This work was supported by Yaqu Pacha, FUNBIO, CNPq and CAPES. All applicable national and institutional guidelines for sampling of animals were followed and all necessary approvals have been obtained (SISBIO Number 16586–2). The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Tatsch, A.C., de Lima, R.C., Secchi, E.R. et al. Niche partitioning among odontocetes in a marine biogeographic transition zone of the western South Atlantic Ocean. Mar Biol 171, 38 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-023-04359-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-023-04359-1