To whom it may concern:
The following paper has been published in this month's issue of Marine Ecology Progress Series:
Stable isotope analysis reveals habitat partitioning among marine
mammals off the NW African coast and unique trophic niches for two
globally threatened species.
A. M. Pinela, A. Borrell, L. Cardona, A. Aguilar
MEPS 416:295-306 (2010) - doi:10.3354/meps08790
Abstract: Stable isotope abundances of carbon (ä13C) and nitrogen (ä15N)
in the bone of 13 species of marine mammals from the northwest coast of
Africa were investigated to assess their positions in the local trophic
web and their preferred habitats. Also, samples of primary producers
and potential prey species from the study area were collected to
characterise the local isotopic landscape. This characterisation
indicated that ä13C values increased from offshore to nearshore and that ä15N was a good proxy for trophic level. Therefore, the most coastal species were Monachus monachus and Sousa teuszii, whereas the most pelagic were Physeter macrocephalus and Balaenoptera acutorostrata. ä15N values indicated that marine mammals located at the lowest trophic level were B. acutorostrata, Stenella coeruleoalba and Delphinus sp., and those occupying the highest trophic level were M. monachus and P. macrocephalus. The trophic level of Orcinus orca was similar to that of M. monachus, suggesting that O. orca preys on fish. Conservation of coastal and threatened species (M. monachus and S. teuszii)
off NW Africa should be a priority because these species, as the main
apex predators, cannot be replaced by other marine mammals.
Here is the link to the Abstract page: http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v416/p295-306/
If you are interested in a reprint please write to one of these e-mail addresses:
ana.pinela@gmail.com or anapinela@ub.edu
Thank you very much in advance.
Best regards,
Ana Pinela
Ana Pinela, Ph.D. Candidate
University of Barcelona
Faculty of Biology
Dpt. Animal Biology
Av. Diagonal 645
08028 Barcelona
Spain