- Title
- Stable isotope evidence of food web connectivity by a top predatory fish (Argyrosomus japonicus: Sciaenidae: Teleostei) in the Kowie Estuary, South Africa
- Creator
- Bergamino, Leandro, Dalu, Tatenda, Whitfield, Alan K, Carassou, Laure, Richoux, Nicole B
- Subject
- To be catalogued
- Date
- 2014
- Type
- text
- Type
- article
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10962/457322
- Identifier
- vital:75625
- Identifier
- xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2014.923782"
- Description
- In this study, food web connectivity within the Kowie Estuary on the south-east coast of South Africa was evidenced by the trophic behaviour of the predominantly piscivorous Argyrosomus japonicus. We examined stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) in the dominant consumers (zooplankton, invertebrates and fishes) and food sources (particulate organic matter, epibionts and benthic microalgae) in the system. An SIAR (Stable Isotope Analysis in R) mixing model was used to interpret the possible food sources for this dominant top predatory fish. Small fishes and large epibenthic invertebrates dominated the diet of A. japonicus. Based on the contrasting diet of these prey fish and invertebrates, we propose that organic matter enters the predatory fish community via two major pathways: (1) a littoral pathway dominated by benthic microalgae production and epibionts, and (2) a channel pathway dominated by suspended particulate organic matter (including phytoplankton). We conclude that the highly mobile A. japonicus consumes both pelagic and benthic fauna from the littoral and channel zones of the estuary, thereby playing a key functional role in linking food webs. This dietary diversity may help explain the success of A. japonicus as a dominant top predator in the system, primarily by increasing the energy available to this species.
- Format
- computer, online resource, application/pdf, 1 online resource (7 pages), pdf
- Publisher
- Taylor and Francis
- Language
- English
- Relation
- Journal of Marine Science, Bergamino, L., Dalu, T., Whitfield, A.K., Carassou, L. and Richoux, N.B., 2014. Stable isotope evidence of food web connectivity by a top predatory fish (Argyrosomus japonicus: Sciaenidae: Teleostei) in the Kowie Estuary, South Africa. African Journal of Marine Science, 36(2), pp.207-213, Journal of Marine Science volume 36 number 2 p. 207 2014 1814-2338
- Rights
- Publisher
- Rights
- Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Taylor and Francis Online Terms and Conditions Statement (https://www.tandfonline.com/terms-and-conditions)
- Rights
- Closed Access
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Collections
Richoux, Nicole Bertine (Assoc Prof)
RU South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)
SDG 15. Life On Land
RU Department of Zoology and Entomology
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | Stable isotope evidence of food web connectivity by a top predatory fish.pdf | 737 KB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |