Trophic ecology of the Atlantic seabob shrimp Xiphopenaeus kroyeri in Suriname: combining stomach content and stable isotope analyses
Kerkhove, T. (2014). Trophic ecology of the Atlantic seabob shrimp Xiphopenaeus kroyeri in Suriname: combining stomach content and stable isotope analyses. MSc Thesis. Marine Biology, Ghent University: Gent. 26 pp.
The diet and trophic ecology of the Atlantic seabob shrimp Xiphopenaeus kroyeri was studied using a combination of stomach content and dual stable isotope (δ13C and δ15N) analyses. This penaeid shrimp is abundant in the coastal waters of northern South America and is the most important shrimp resource for coastal fisheries in Suriname. Stomach content analysis revealed that X. kroyeri in Suriname fed on a combination of animal prey and unidentified organic detritus. Animal prey consisted mainly of copepods and the planktonic shrimp Lucifer faxoni. Based on a Bayesian stable isotope mixing model, the organic detritus could be identified as sediment-associated organic matter sources and biofilm from intertidal mudflats. Furthermore, an ontogenetic shift in diet was observed in X. kroyeri, with post-larvae and juveniles feeding on smaller prey than adults. Both stable isotope analysis and stomach content analysis showed the opportunistic feeding behaviour and omnivory of X. kroyeri in the coastal zone of Suriname. The results highlight the trophic link between intertidal and offshore marine ecosystems and the important role that this abundant species has in the benthic community in the coastal zone of Suriname.
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