Trophic interactions between indigenous and non-indigenous species in Lampedusa Island, Mediterranean Sea. (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Marić, Martina; De Troch, Marleen; Occhipinti-Ambrogi, Anna; Olenin, Sergej
• Is Part Of: Marine environmental research. Volume 120(2016)
• Page Start: 182
• Page End: 190
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: Biological invasion -- Caulerpa cylindracea -- Asparagopsis taxiformis -- Percnon gibbesi -- Aplysia dactylomela -- Marine parks -- Stable isotopes -- Ecosystem functioning; Marine pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Marine ecology -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Écologie marine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 577.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2016.08.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0141-1136

Abstract

Abstract: Using stable isotope analysis, we investigated trophic interactions between indigenous benthic taxa and the non-indigenous species (NIS): the green alga Caulerpa cylindracea, the red alga Asparagopsis taxiformis, the crab Percnon gibbesi and the sea hare Aplysia dactylomela . The study was conducted on Lampedusa Island, Mediterranean Sea. We evaluated the trophic positions and isotopic niches of consumers. Using Bayesian mixing models, we quantified the food source contribution to diets of indigenous and non-indigenous herbivores. Isotopic niche of NIS showed no overlap with the ones of indigenous macroinvertebrates and fish. Caulerpa cylindracea provided the largest contribution to the diet of P. gibbesi (0.431–1), while the dietary contribution estimates overlapped considerably for all sources of A. dactylomela and indigenous herbivores. From these results, we conclude that the invasion of C. cylindracea is increasing the diversity of available prey and might facilitate the expansion of other NIS. Highlights: The isotopic niches of indigenous and non-indigenous species showed no overlap. Caulerpa cylindracea provided the largest contribution to the diet of Percnon gibbesi. C. cylindracea might facilitate the expansion of P. gibbesi.