The secret meal of Antarctic mesopelagic fish (Myctophidae: Electrona) revealed by multi-marker metabarcoding DOI Creative Commons
Micaela Ruiz, Ryan A. Saunders, Geraint A. Tarling

et al.

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: Nov. 19, 2024

Introduction In the Southern Ocean, myctophids are most successful pelagic fish group in terms of diversity, biomass, and abundance. They play a crucial role linking primary consumers coupling carbon flux between surface mesopelagic depths. Understanding their trophodynamics is key to assessing ecosystem resilience under environmental change. Conventional stomach content analyses indicate that predominantly feed on crustaceans, such as copepods euphausiids, but less effective at detecting easily digestible, soft-bodied organisms like gelatinous zooplankton (GZP) pteropods. Methods This study used multimarker (COI Leray-XT 18S v1-v2) DNA metabarcoding analyze diets two abundant Scotia Sea, Electrona antarctica carlsbergi . Results discussion We found diverse diet dominated by followed pteropods GZP frequency occurrence relative read abundances. Within GZP, salps appendicularians were major components for E. , while hydrozoans prominent With regards seasonal spatial variability dietary contribution consumed primarily appendicularians, chaetognaths, during spring (2006) northern region, more (predominantly Ilhea racovitzai ) other cnidarians autumn (2009) southern region. Our reveals diversity myctophid well importance consumption trophic pathway Ocean.

Language: Английский

Detecting the invisible through DNA metabarcoding: The role of gelatinous taxa in the diet of two demersal Antarctic key stone fish species (Notothenioidei) DOI Creative Commons
Micaela Ruiz, Eugenia Moreira, Manuel Novillo

et al.

Environmental DNA, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 6(3)

Published: May 1, 2024

Abstract Gelatinous zooplankton (GZP), i.e., ctenophores, cnidarian medusae, chaetognaths, appendicularians and salps, are considered climate change winners. This becomes particularly obvious in the Southern Ocean, which has undergone a significant shift from krill‐based to salp‐based ecosystem over last decades. A better knowledge on role of gelatinous invertebrates as prey is needed predict impact such shift. Until recently, GZP was “trophic dead end”. However, their true importance diets remained unresolved due rapid digestion watery soft tissues predators' stomachs. In this study, we want validate paradigm being “survival food” be “regular” item for two demersal fish species ( Notothenia rossii N. coriiceps ) Potter Cove, South Shetland Islands, using multimarker (COI 18S) metabarcoding approach. We found that taxa commonly occurred both species, represented by pelagic tunicates (appendicularians, salps), cnidarians, chaetognaths ctenophores. Salps were most abundant group, preyed upon each individual reaching 98.7% relative read abundance 18S. recovered wide range different diets, primary producers highly invertebrates, thus nototheniid can regarded “natural samplers” study. Finally, point out approaches broad ecological assessments, given differential amplification sequencing success markers specific groups unequal taxonomic coverage reference databases. The output marker complementary, since an important only detected with 18S, while other (e.g., Arthropoda) higher resolution COI.

Language: Английский

Citations

4
Diet and Feeding Behavior of the South Polar Skuas Stercorarius maccormicki in the Haswell Islands, East Antarctica DOI Creative Commons
Sergey Golubev

Birds, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(2), P. 240 - 254

Published: May 31, 2024

The diet and feeding behavior of South Polar Skuas (Stercorarius maccormicki) are well studied within the species’ breeding range but poorly understood on Haswell Islands. aim this study was to determine how use available resources during pre-breeding periods at Archipelago (66°31′ S, 93°01′ E, Davis Sea, Southern Ocean) under conditions prolonged human activity. I pellets, spontaneous regurgitation, stomach contents feathered birds skuas used direct observations their behavior. Islands fed primarily Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) colony terrestrial in Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae) fulmarine petrel colonies. dominant prey were Antarctic penguins. Penguins make up bulk skuas’ periods. Surface sea observed post-breeding period. In recent decades, kitchen waste supported skua population. Scavenging (placenta feces Weddell seals [Leptonychotes weddellii], frozen eggs, chicks adults bird species, refuse) is strategy for obtaining food. eggs main food items Archipelago. Skua predation could potentially influence success petrels, extent impact unknown. negligible because feed mainly species.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Stable dominance of parasitic dinoflagellates in Antarctic sponges DOI Creative Commons
Marileyxis R. López-Rodríguez, Catherine Gérikas Ribeiro, Susana Rodríguez‐Marconi

et al.

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12, P. e18365 - e18365

Published: Nov. 8, 2024

Marine sponges are dominant components of Antarctic benthos and representative the high endemism that characterizes this environment. All microbial groups part sponge holobionts, but eukaryotes have been studied less, their symbiotic role still needs to be better understood. Here, we characterize dynamics associated with sponges, focusing on dinoflagellates over three summer periods understand members, interannual variations, trophic lifestyle strategies.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
The secret meal of Antarctic mesopelagic fish (Myctophidae: Electrona) revealed by multi-marker metabarcoding DOI Creative Commons
Micaela Ruiz, Ryan A. Saunders, Geraint A. Tarling

et al.

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: Nov. 19, 2024

Introduction In the Southern Ocean, myctophids are most successful pelagic fish group in terms of diversity, biomass, and abundance. They play a crucial role linking primary consumers coupling carbon flux between surface mesopelagic depths. Understanding their trophodynamics is key to assessing ecosystem resilience under environmental change. Conventional stomach content analyses indicate that predominantly feed on crustaceans, such as copepods euphausiids, but less effective at detecting easily digestible, soft-bodied organisms like gelatinous zooplankton (GZP) pteropods. Methods This study used multimarker (COI Leray-XT 18S v1-v2) DNA metabarcoding analyze diets two abundant Scotia Sea, Electrona antarctica carlsbergi . Results discussion We found diverse diet dominated by followed pteropods GZP frequency occurrence relative read abundances. Within GZP, salps appendicularians were major components for E. , while hydrozoans prominent With regards seasonal spatial variability dietary contribution consumed primarily appendicularians, chaetognaths, during spring (2006) northern region, more (predominantly Ilhea racovitzai ) other cnidarians autumn (2009) southern region. Our reveals diversity myctophid well importance consumption trophic pathway Ocean.

Language: Английский

Citations

0