Trophic structure of a nektobenthic community exploited by a multispecific bottom trawling fishery in Northeastern Brazil

Type Article
Date 2021-02
Language English
Author(s) Lira Alex SouzaORCID1, 2, Lucena--Frédou Flávia1, Ménard Frédéric3, Frédou Thierry1, Guazzelli Gonzalez Julio1, 4, Ferreira Valdimere1, Souto Rosa Filho JoséORCID1, Munaron Jean-Marie1, Le Loch Francois1
Affiliation(s) 1 : Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
2 : IRD, Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, LEMAR, F-29280 Plouzané, France
3 : Aix Marseille Univ, Univ Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO, UM110, Marseille, France
4 : MARBEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, 34095, Montpellier, France
Source Plos One (1932-6203) (Public Library of Science (PLoS)), 2021-02 , Vol. 16 , N. 2 , P. e0246491 (18p.)
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0246491
WOS© Times Cited 2
Abstract

We used complementary stable isotope (SIA) and stomach content (SCA) analyses to investigate feeding relationships among species of the nektobenthic communities and the potential ecological effects of the bottom trawling of a coastal ecosystem in northeastern Brazil. Carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) compositions were determined for five basal sources and 28 consumers, from zooplankton to shrimp and fish species. Fishes and basal sources showed a broad range of δ15N (fishes: 6.49–14.94‰; sources: 2.58–6.79‰) and δ13C values (fishes: -23.86 to -13.71‰; sources: -24.32 to -13.53‰), while shrimps and crabs exhibited similar nitrogen and carbon ratios. Six trophic consumer groups were determined among zooplankton, crustaceans and fishes by SIA, with trophic pathways associated mostly with benthic sources. SCA results indicated a preference for benthic invertebrates, mainly worms, crabs and shrimps, as prey for the fish fauna, highlighting their importance in the food web. In overall, differences between SCA and the SIA approaches were observed, except for groups composed mainly for shrimps and some species of high δ15N values, mostly piscivorous and zoobenthivores. Given the absence of regulation for bottom trawling activities in the area, the cumulative effects of trawling on population parameters, species composition, potentially decreasing the abundance of benthic preys (e.g., shrimps, worms and crabs) may lead to changes in the trophic structure potentially affect the food web and the sustainability of the fishery.

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Publisher's official version 18 1 MB Open access
S1 Table. Complementary sampling information. 27 KB Open access
S2 Table. Additional diet data information considered to present study off the Sirinhaém coast, northeastern Brazil. 18 KB Open access
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How to cite 

Lira Alex Souza, Lucena--Frédou Flávia, Ménard Frédéric, Frédou Thierry, Guazzelli Gonzalez Julio, Ferreira Valdimere, Souto Rosa Filho José, Munaron Jean-Marie, Le Loch Francois (2021). Trophic structure of a nektobenthic community exploited by a multispecific bottom trawling fishery in Northeastern Brazil. Plos One, 16(2), e0246491 (18p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246491 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00678/79040/