Dear colleagues,

On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to inform our new publication in
Limnology and Oceanography Letters.

American manatees adjust their diet composition and trophic niche breadth
across different coastal regions

Carvalho, C.C., E. Deeks, L.L. Ciotti, S. Botta, M. Marmontel, M.
Copertino, F.O. Luna, F.N.L. Attademo, V.L. Carvalho, J.C.G. Borges,
A.F. Costa, R. Emin-Lima, P. Kratina, and E.R. Secchi. 2026. “American
manatees adjust their diet composition and trophic niche breadth across
different coastal regions.” Limnology and Oceanography Letters.
https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.70127

Abstract

Marine mammals can exhibit high plasticity in foraging strategies, but how
such plasticity is driven by environmental conditions is poorly understood.
The American manatee (Trichechus manatus), a large, endangered herbivore,
inhabits marine, estuarine, and freshwater environments. To better
understand their resource use, we analyzed dietary differences across three
large Brazilian regions—the Northern Coast (NC), Dry-Northeastern Coast
(Dry-NEC), and Humid-Northeastern Coast (Humid-NEC). The δ13C and δ15N
values of manatee tissues increased from the NC to the Northeastern Coast.
Stable isotope mixing models revealed that manatees from the Dry-NEC feed
almost exclusively on seagrasses, while those from the NC rely
predominantly on saltmarsh vegetation. In the Humid-NEC, manatees had a
notable contribution from macroalgae, and exhibited the greatest dietary
and habitat use diversity among the regions. These spatial patterns advance
our understanding of large-scale habitat use, guiding the establishment of
marine protected areas to safeguard manatees and their habitats.

Full paper in:

https://aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/lol2.70127

Thank you,

Camila Carvalho de Carvalho