TY - JOUR
T1 - Trophic habitat of the Pacific sharpnose shark, Rhizoprionodon longurio, in the Mexican Pacific
AU - Alatorre-Ramirez, Vanessa Guadalupe
AU - Galván-Magaña, Felipe
AU - Torres-Rojas, Yassir Edén
PY - 2013/12
Y1 - 2013/12
N2 - The Pacific sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon longurio is caught seasonally by inshore artisanal fisheries in the Mexican Pacific. Our study focuses on the feeding ecology of this shark species in the southern Gulf of California. The prey species obtained from stomach contents were identified and quantified, and variations between sexes and maturity stages were determined. A total of 98 stomachs were analysed during two periods (2000-2001 and 2003-2004); 64% of stomachs contained food. The trophic spectrum was composed of four cephalopod species, three crustacean species, and 13 pelagic and benthic fish species. According to the index of relative importance (%IRI), the fish Echiophis brunneus (IRI = 14.4%), Opisthopterus dovii (IRI = 12.2%) and Scomber japonicus (IRI = 9.6%) were the main prey items. Based on diversity values, IRI values and diet breadth, R. longurio is an opportunistic predator. The trophic position of R. longurio was above four in all categories, which indicates that this shark is a tertiary consumer.
AB - The Pacific sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon longurio is caught seasonally by inshore artisanal fisheries in the Mexican Pacific. Our study focuses on the feeding ecology of this shark species in the southern Gulf of California. The prey species obtained from stomach contents were identified and quantified, and variations between sexes and maturity stages were determined. A total of 98 stomachs were analysed during two periods (2000-2001 and 2003-2004); 64% of stomachs contained food. The trophic spectrum was composed of four cephalopod species, three crustacean species, and 13 pelagic and benthic fish species. According to the index of relative importance (%IRI), the fish Echiophis brunneus (IRI = 14.4%), Opisthopterus dovii (IRI = 12.2%) and Scomber japonicus (IRI = 9.6%) were the main prey items. Based on diversity values, IRI values and diet breadth, R. longurio is an opportunistic predator. The trophic position of R. longurio was above four in all categories, which indicates that this shark is a tertiary consumer.
KW - Artisanal fishing
KW - Diet breadth
KW - Gulf of California
KW - Mexico
KW - Opportunistic predator
KW - Sharks
KW - Trophic position
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84887488123&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0025315413000957
DO - 10.1017/S0025315413000957
M3 - Artículo
SN - 0025-3154
VL - 93
SP - 2217
EP - 2224
JO - Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
JF - Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
IS - 8
ER -