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Predator-prey relationships and foraging ecology of a marine apex predator with a wide temperate distribution
Citation
Barnett, A and Abrantes, K and Stevens, JD and Yick, JL and Frusher, SD and Semmens, JM, Predator-prey relationships and foraging ecology of a marine apex predator with a wide temperate distribution, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 416, (October) pp. 189-200. ISSN 0171-8630 (2010) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2010 Inter-Research
Official URL: http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v416/p189-20...
Abstract
The diet of the broadnose sevengill shark Notorynchus cepedianus was investigated
over 3 years from 2 coastal locations in south-east Tasmania: the Derwent Estuary and Norfolk Bay.
In general, individuals from both locations consumed the same broad dietary categories (sharks,
batoids, teleosts and mammals). However, within these categories, species composition differed.
Variations in chondrichthyan prey consumed matched estimations of prey abundance: Mustelus
antarcticus was the primary prey in Norfolk Bay, where it was also the most abundant prey species;
similarly, Squalus acanthias was an important prey and the most abundant in the Derwent Estuary. A
decline in the catch rates of N. cepedianus and elasmobranch prey, in particular M. antarcticus over
3 years coincided with declines in dietary occurrence of M. antarcticus. Also, N. cepedianus and
M. antarcticus abundances were both higher in Norfolk Bay than the Derwent Estuary. The correlation
with diet and estimations of predator and prey relative abundance suggests N. cepedianus may
move into coastal areas to exploit regular seasonal abundant resources, but they can also be versatile
opportunistic predators that exploit a temporarily abundant resource.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Shark Notorynchus cepedianus, Diet,Spatial scale, Mustelus antarcticus |
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Ecology |
| Research Field: | Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
| Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
| Objective Field: | Assessment and management of terrestrial ecosystems |
| UTAS Author: | Barnett, A (Dr Adam Barnett) |
| UTAS Author: | Abrantes, K (Dr Katia Dos Santos Abrantes) |
| UTAS Author: | Yick, JL (Mr Jonah Yick) |
| UTAS Author: | Frusher, SD (Professor Stewart Frusher) |
| UTAS Author: | Semmens, JM (Professor Jayson Semmens) |
| ID Code: | 66524 |
| Year Published: | 2010 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 26 |
| Deposited By: | TAFI - Marine Research Laboratory |
| Deposited On: | 2011-02-01 |
| Last Modified: | 2011-07-27 |
| Downloads: | 589 View Download Statistics |
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