Marine Science Faculty Publications
Isotopic Characterization of Lifetime Movement by Two Demersal Fishes from the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2021
Keywords
Stable isotopes, Fish eye lenses, Fish movement, δ13C, δ15N, Trophic growth
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13525
Abstract
An understanding of lifetime trophic changes and ontogenetic habitat shifts is essential to the preservation of marine fish species. We used carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values (δ13C and δ15N) recorded within the laminar structure of fish eye lenses, reflecting both diet and location over time, to compare the lifetime trends of 2 demersal mesopredators. Tilefish Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps inhabit burrows on the outer continental shelf, which results in exceptional site fidelity. Red grouper Epinephelus morio are spawned on the middle to outer continental shelf, move to the inner shelf for the juvenile period, and return offshore upon sexual maturity. Both species inhabit the eastern Gulf of Mexico, a region with a distinctive offshore-inshore gradient in background δ13C values. Within individual tilefish (n = 36), sequences of δ13C values and δ15N values had strong, positive correlations with eye-lens diameter, and strong correlations between the 2 isotopes (mean Spearman r = 0.86), reflecting an increase in trophic position with growth and little lifetime movement. In red grouper (n = 30), δ15N values positively correlated with eye-lens diameter, but correlations between δ15N and δ13C were weak (mean Spearman r = 0.29), suggesting cross-shelf ontogenetic movements. Linear mixed model results indicated strong relationships between δ15N and δ13C values in tilefish eye lenses but no convergence in the red grouper model. Collectively, these results are consistent with previously established differences in the life histories of the 2 species, demonstrating the potential utility of eye-lens isotope records, particularly for investigating the life histories of lesser-known species.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Marine Ecology Progress Series, v. 657, p. 161-172
Scholar Commons Citation
Vecchio, Julie L.; Ostroff, Jenny L.; and Peebles, Ernst B., "Isotopic Characterization of Lifetime Movement by Two Demersal Fishes from the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico" (2021). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 2278.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/2278
