Feeding strategies of the pelagic stingray (Pteroplatytrygon violacea) in the western Mediterranean Sea.
Mar Environ Res
; 200: 106651, 2024 Sep.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39059121
ABSTRACT
Elasmobranchs play crucial roles as predators in marine ecosystems. Understanding their trophic strategies and interactions is necessary for comprehending food web dynamics and developing ecosystem-based management strategies. Although, feeding strategies can change depending on several factors, including fluctuations in prey availability throughout the year. In this study, we investigated the trophic ecology of the pelagic stingray, Pteroplatytrygon violacea, the only stingray inhabiting the pelagic environment in the western Mediterranean Sea. We found significant temporal differences in diet composition, mostly consuming pelagic zooplankton in spring, whereas benthopelagic teleosts in autumn. After contrasting different studies, P. violacea appears to have a generalist and opportunistic diet consisting of a broad spectrum of pelagic and benthopelagic species, and trophic plasticity in response to environmental fluctuations. Our findings suggest that P. violacea can present different feeding strategies, mainly pelagic, with a relatively low trophic position for a mesopredator compared to other batoids.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Skates, Fish
/
Food Chain
/
Feeding Behavior
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Mar Environ Res
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
/
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
/
TOXICOLOGIA
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Country of publication:
United kingdom