Prey composition and ontogenetic shift in coastal populations of longnose gar Lepisosteus osseus

Smylie, M.; Shervette, V.; McDonough, C.

doi:10.1111/jfb.12759

Title: Prey composition and ontogenetic shift in coastal populations of longnose gar Lepisosteus osseus

Journal Article · Mon Aug 24 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Journal of Fish Biology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.12759· OSTI ID:1401395

Smylie, M. ^[1]; Shervette, V. ^[2]; McDonough, C. ^[3]

Grice Marine Laboratory College of Charleston 205 Fort Johnson Road Charleston SC 29412 U.S.A.
Department of Biology and Geology University of South Carolina Aiken 471 University Parkway Aiken SC 29801 U.S.A.
Marine Resources Division South Carolina Department of Natural Resources 217 Fort Johnson Road Charleston SC 29422 U.S.A.

Longnose gar Lepisosteus osseus were collected from May 2012 to July 2013 in the Charleston Harbor and Winyah Bay estuaries ( SC , U.S.A.). This study examined trends in stomach fullness, described major prey components and their importance in the diet of L. osseus , compared stomach content‐based trophic level estimates with the stable‐isotope‐based proxy: δ ¹⁵ N and tested for the occurrence of an ontogenetic diet shift using stomach content analysis and stable C and N isotopes ( δ ¹³ C and δ ¹⁵ N ). Dominant prey families were Clupeidae, Sciaenidae, Penaeidae, Fundulidae and Mugilidae, with the highest consumption rates in autumn. Trophic levels calculated using stomach contents did not correspond to δ ¹⁵ N ( P > 0·05). Stomach contents and stable‐isotope signatures indicate ontogenetic prey composition shifts from low trophic level benthic prey (fundulids) to higher trophic level pelagic prey (clupeids) as the fish grow between 400 and 600 mm in standard length. Due to their biomass, abundance and top predator status, L. osseus play a significant ecological role in the estuarine community composition, although this effect has often been overlooked by past researchers and should be considered in future estuarine community studies.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

OSTI ID:: 1401395

Journal Information:: Journal of Fish Biology, Journal Name: Journal of Fish Biology Vol. 87 Journal Issue: 4; ISSN 0022-1112

Publisher:: Wiley-BlackwellCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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Cited by: 9 works

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