Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The trophic ecology of two abundant mesopredators in south-east coastal waters of Tasmania, Australia

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Investigating predator–prey relationships is an important component for identifying and understanding the factors that influence the structure and function of ecosystems. Mesopredators, defined as mid-level predators, have a profound effect on ecosystem structure by contributing an important link between apex predators and lower trophic levels. The diet of two elasmobranch mesopredators, Squalus acanthias and Mustelus antarcticus, was investigated in three locations in south-east Tasmania. Squalus acanthias consumed predominantly pelagic teleosts and cephalopods, while M. antarcticus predominantly consumed benthic crustaceans. As a result, there was low dietary and niche overlap between the two species. There was however evidence of intra-specific dietary variations between locations for both the species. This study has contributed to a better understanding of the top-down dynamics of the food web in coastal Tasmania, by providing important dietary information of two abundant mesopredators. In addition, the similar dietary patterns for S. acanthias and other Mustelus species over much of their global range suggest they may be consistent in their trophic roles across systems, with limited competition between these two sympatric mesopredators to be expected.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abrantes KG, Barnett A (2011) Intrapopulation variations in diet and habitat use in a marine apex predator, the broadnose sevengill shark Notorynchus cepedianus. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 442:133–148. doi:10.3354/meps09395

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amundsen PA, Gabler HM, Staldvik FJ (1996) A new approach to graphical analysis of feeding strategy from stomach contents data—Modification of the Costello (1990) method. J Fish Biol 48:607–614. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1996.tb01455.x

    Google Scholar 

  • Avsar D (2001) Age, growth, reproduction and feeding of the Spurdog (Squalus acanthias Linnaeus, 1758) in the south-eastern black Sea. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 52:269–278. doi:10.1006/ecss.2000.0749

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnett A, Semmens JM (in press) Sequential movement into coastal habitats and high spatial overlap of predator and prey suggest high predation pressure in protected areas. Oikos. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2011.20000.x

  • Barnett A, Abrantes KG, Stevens JD, Bruce BD, Semmens JM (2010a) Fine-scale movements of the broadnose sevengill shark and its main prey, the gummy shark. PloS ONE 5:e15464. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0015464

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barnett A, Abrantes K, Stevens JD, Yick J, Frusher SD, Semmens JM (2010b) Predator-prey relationships and foraging ecology of a marine apex predator with a wide temperate distribution. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 416:189–200. doi:10.3354/meps08778

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnett A, Redd KS, Frusher SD, Stevens JD, Semmens JM (2010c) Non-lethal method to obtain stomach samples from a large marine predator and the use of DNA analysis to improve dietary information. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 393:188–192. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2010.07.022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baum JK, Worm B (2009) Cascading top-down effects of changing oceanic predator abundances. J Anim Ecol 78:699–714. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2656.2009.01531.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belleggia M, Figueroa DE, Sánchez F, Bremec C (2011) The feeding ecology of Mustelus schmitti in the southwestern Atlantic: geographic variations and dietary shifts. Environ Biol Fish. doi:10.1007/s10641-011-9874-3

    Google Scholar 

  • Blackburn M (1950) A biological study of the anchovy, Engraulis australis in Australian waters. Mar Freshw Res 1:3–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braccini JM, Gillanders BM, Walker TI (2005) Sources of variation in the feeding ecology of the piked spurdog (Squalus megalops): implications for inferring predator-prey interactions from overall dietary composition. ICES J Mar Sci 62:1076–1094. doi:10.1016/j.icesjms.2005.04.004

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke KR, Gorley RN (2001) Primer v5. PRIMER-E, Plymouth, p 91

  • Coleman N, Mobley M (1984) Diets of commercially exploited fish from Bass Strait and adjacent Victorian waters, south-eastern Australia. Aust J Mar Fresh Res 35:549–560. doi:10.1071/MF9840549

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collins AB, Heupel MR, Hueter RE, Motta PJ (2007) Hard prey specialists or opportunistic generalists? An examination of the diet of the cownose ray, Rhinoptera bonasus. Mar Freshw Res 58:135–144. doi:10.1071/MF05227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cortés E (1997) A critical review of methods of studying fish feeding based on analysis of stomach contents: application to elasmobranch fishes. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 54:726–738. doi:10.1139/f96-316

    Google Scholar 

  • Costello MJ (1990) Predator feeding strategy and prey importance—a new graphical analysis. J Fish Biol 36:261–263. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1990.tb05601.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Demirhan SA, Seyhan K, Basusta TN (2007) Dietary overlap in spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) and thornback ray (Raja clavata) in the southeastern black sea. Ekoloji 16:1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Elmhagen B, Rushton SP (2007) Trophic control of mesopredators in terrestrial ecosystems: top-down or bottom-up? Ecol Lett 10:197–206. doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2006.01010.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Estes JA, Tinker MT, William TM, Doak DF (1998) Killer whale predation on sea otters linking oceanic and nearshore ecosystems. Science 282:473–476. doi:10.1126/science.282.5388.473

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gotelli NJ, Entsminger GL (2011) EcoSim: null models software for ecology. Version 7. Acquired Intelligence Inc. & Kesey-Bear. Jericho, VT 05465. http://garyentsminger.com/ecosim.htm

  • Hanchet S (1991) Diet of spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias Linnaeus, on the east coast, South Island, New Zealand. J Fish Biol 39:313–323. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1991.tb04365.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heithaus MR (2004) Predator-prey interactions. In: Carrier JC, Musick JA, Heithaus MR (eds) Biology of the sharks and their relatives. CRC Press, Florida, pp 487–523

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Heithaus MR, Frid A, Wirsing AJ, Worm B (2008) Predicting ecological consequences of marine top predator declines. Trends Ecol Evol 23:202–210. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2008.01.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson AC, Dunne J, Flannery K (2002) Stomach contents of spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias L. off the west coast of Ireland. Ir Nat J 27:101–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobday DK (1992) Abundance and distribution of pilchard and Australian anchovy as prey species for the little penguin Eudyptula minor at Phillip Island, Victoria. Emu 91:342–354. doi:10.1071/MU9910342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holden MJ (1966) The food of the spurdog, Squalus acanthias (L.). J Cons Int Explor Mer 30:255–266. doi:10.1093/icesjms/30.2.255

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchins B, Swainston R (1993) Sea fishes of southern Australia. Swainston Publishing, Australia, p 180

    Google Scholar 

  • Huveneers C, Otway NM, Gibbs SE, Harcourt RG (2007) Quantitative diet assessment of wobbegong sharks (genus Orectolobus) in New South Wales, Australia. ICES J MarSci 64:1272. doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsm111

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyslop EJ (1980) Stomach contents analysis- a review of methods and their application. J Fish Biol 17:411–429. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1980.tb02775.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones BC, Geen GH (1977) Food and feeding of spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) in British Columbia waters. J Fish Res Board Can 34:2067–2078. doi:10.1139/f77-274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamura S, Hashimoto H (2004) The food habits of four species of triakid sharks, Triakiss cyllium, Hemitriakis japanica, Mustelus griseus and Mustelus manazo, in the central Seto Inland Sea, Japan. Fish Sci 70:1019–1035. doi:10.1111/j.1444-2906.2004.00902.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koen Alonso M, Crespo EA, Garcia NA, Pedraza SN, Mariotti PA, Mora NJ (2002) Fishery and ontogenetic driven changes in the diet of the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias), in Patagonian waters, Argentina. Environ Biol Fish 63:193–202. doi:10.1023/A:1014229432375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krebs CJ (1999) Ecological methodology, 2nd edn. Addison-Welsey Educational Publishers, California, p 624

    Google Scholar 

  • Laptikhovsky VV, Arkhipkin AI, Henderson AC (2001) Feeding habits and dietary overlap in spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias (Squalidae) and narrowmouth catshark Schroederichthys bivius (Scyliorhinidae). J Mar Biol Ass UK 81:1015–1018

    Google Scholar 

  • Last PR, Stevens JD (2009) Sharks and rays of Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, p 656

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucifora LO, García VB, Menni RC, Escalante AH, Hozbor NM (2009) Effects of body size, age and maturity stage on diet in a large shark: ecological and applied implications. Ecol Res 24:109–118. doi:10.1007/s11284-008-0487-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacKinlay D, Shearer K (1996) Gutshop’96: feeding ecology and nutrition in fish: symposium proceedings. Am Fish Soc, San Francisco, p 214

    Google Scholar 

  • McLane AJ (1974) Field guide to saltwater fishes of North America. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, New York, p 304

  • Medved RJ (1985) Gastric evacuation in the sandbar shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus. J Fish Biol 26:239–253. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1985.tb04263.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papastamatiou YP, Wetherbee BM, Lowe CG, Crow GL (2006) Distribution and diet of four species of carcharhinid shark in the Hawaiian Islands: evidence for resource partitioning and competitive exclusion. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 320:239–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pianka ER (1974) Evolutionary ecology. Harper and Row, New York, p 356

    Google Scholar 

  • Rinewalt CS, Ebert DA, Cailliet GM (2007) Food habits of the sandpaper skate, Bathyraja kincaidii (Garman, 1908) off central California: seasonal variation in diet linked to oceanographic conditions. Environ Biol Fish 80:147–163. doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-9703-4_4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie EG, Johnson CN (2009) Predator interactions, mesopredator release and biodiversity conservation. Ecol Lett 12:982–998. doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01347.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson HJ, Cailliet GM, Ebert DA (2007) Food habits of the longnose skate, Raja rhina (Jordan and Gilbert, 1880), in central California waters. Environ Biol Fish 80:165–179. doi:10.1007/s10641-007-9222-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scenna LB, de la Rosa G, Diaz de Astarloa JM (2006) Trophic ecology of the Patagonian skate, Bathyraja macloviana, on the Argentine continental shelf. ICES J Mar Sci 63:867–874. doi:10.1016/j.icesjms.2006.02.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scott J (1992) The biology and ecology of the spiny dogfish in south-east Tasmanian waters. Honours thesis, University of Tasmania, Australia

  • Simpfendorfer CA, Goodreid A, McAuley RB (2001a) Diet of three commercially important shark species from Western Australian waters. Mar Freshw Res 52:975–985. doi:10.1071/MF01017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simpfendorfer CA, Goodreid AB, McAuley RB (2001b) Size, sex and geographic variation in the diet of the tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier, from Western Australian waters. Environ Biol Fish 61:37–46. doi:10.1023/A:1011021710183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sommerville E, Platell ME, White WT, Jones AA, Potter IC (2011) Partitioning of food resources by four abundant, co-occurring elasmobranch species: relationships between diet and both body size and season. Mar Fres Res 62:54–65. doi:10.1071/MF10164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stark KE, Jackson GD, Lyle JM (2005) Tracking arrow squid movements with an automated acoustic telemetry system. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 299:167–177. doi:10.3354/meps299167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens JD, West GJ (1997) Investigation of school and gummy shark nursery areas in south eastern Australia. FRDC Project 93/061. CSIRO Marine Research, Hobart, p 119

    Google Scholar 

  • Sulikowski JA, Galuardi B, Bubley W, Furey NB, Driggers III WB, Ingram Jr. GW, Tsang PCW (2010) Use of satellite tags to reveal the movements of spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias in the western North Atlantic Ocean. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 418: 249–254

  • Vaudo JJ, Heithaus MR (2011) Dietary niche overlap in a nearshore elasmobranch mesopredator community. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 425:247–260. doi:10.3354/meps08988

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker TI (1989) Stomach contents of gummy shark, Mustelus antarcticus Gunther, and school shark, Galeorhinus galeus Linnaeus, from south-eastern Australian waters. Southern Shark Assessment Project Final FIRTA report, March

  • White WT, Potter IC (2004) Habitat partitioning among four elasmobranch species in nearshore, shallow waters of a subtropical embayment in Western Australia. Mar Biol 145:1023–1032. doi:10.1007/s00227-004-1386-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitehead PJP (1986) Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, vol 2. Unesco, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams H, Schaap AH (1992) Preliminary results of a study into the incidental mortality of sharks in gill-nets in two Tasmanian shark nursery areas. Aust J Mar Fresh Res 43:237–250. doi:10.1071/MF9920237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamaguchi A, Taniuchi T (2000) Food variations and ontogenetic dietary shift of the starspotted-dogfish Mustelus manazo at five locations in Japan and Taiwan. Fish Sci 66:1039–1104. doi:10.1046/j.1444-2906.2000.00166.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yick JL, Tracey SR, White RWG (2011) Niche overlap and trophic resource partitioning of two sympatric batoids co-inhabiting an estuarine system in southeast Australia. J Appl Ichthyol 27:1272–1277. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0426.2011.01819.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank T. Alexander, C. Macleod, J. Semmens and G. Pecl for their aid in invertebrate identifications, R. Sakabe for his assistance with some of the statistical analyses, and K. Redd for generously running the DNA analyses on specimens unable to be identified visually. We also thank all volunteer students who assisted in the field and laboratory work. This study was supported by grants to A. B. from the Save Our Seas Foundation, Winifred Violet Scott Foundation and the Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment. All research was conducted under the approval of the Department of Primary Industries and Water permit (8028) and the University of Tasmania Ethics Committee (A0009120).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Jonah L. Yick

    Present address: Inland Fisheries Service, PO Box 575, New Norfolk, TAS, 7140, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 49, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia

    Jonah L. Yick, Adam Barnett & Sean R. Tracey

Authors
  1. Jonah L. Yick
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Adam Barnett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sean R. Tracey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jonah L. Yick.

Additional information

Communicated by M. A. Peck.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yick, J.L., Barnett, A. & Tracey, S.R. The trophic ecology of two abundant mesopredators in south-east coastal waters of Tasmania, Australia. Mar Biol 159, 1183–1196 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-1899-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-1899-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation