Diet of age-0 tarpon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Megalops atlanticus</Emphasis>) in anthropogenically-modified and natural nursery habitats along the Indian River Lagoon,Florida |
| |
Authors: | Zachary R Jud Craig A Layman Jonathan M Shenker |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Biological Sciences, Marine Sciences Program, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st Street, North Miami, FL 33181, USA;(2) Department of Biological Science, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 W University Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA |
| |
Abstract: | As human development in coastal areas increases, the role of anthropogenically-created habitats in the life history of marine
organisms is becoming increasingly important. We examined the diet of age-0 tarpon, Megalops atlanticus, in and around man-made mosquito control impoundments along the Indian River Lagoon in east-central Florida, with a particular
focus on identifying dietary patterns associated with tarpon size and nursery habitat type (i.e., between perimeter pool habitats
in established impoundments and newly-created restoration marsh habitats). Age-0 tarpon were found to consume a wide variety
of prey organisms, and exhibited considerable dietary variation among study sites. Smaller juvenile tarpon consumed a limited
number of small prey taxa, while larger individuals fed on a greater range of prey taxa and sizes. Overall, copepods and fishes
were the dominant prey items; however, the consumption of these organisms varied considerably among size classes and sites.
There was no clear difference in tarpon diet between the two types of habitat we examined. The ability of juvenile tarpon
to utilize such a diverse range of prey organisms may allow populations to inhabit a variety of habitats, including man-made
marshes. When natural systems have been degraded or destroyed, human-altered habitats can assume a nursery role for the species. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|