Abstract
The present study is a valuable contribution to the knowledge of feeding habits of Patagonian toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides in Southwestern Atlantic (53–55°S, 351 to 1073 m depth) near Burdwood Bank/Namuncurá marine-protected area, where diet has not been previously investigated. Based on stomach content analyses of 441 specimens ranging from 38 to 190 cm total length (TL), our study tested the hypotheses that diet was influenced by TL, sex, maturity stage, depth, and region, using generalized linear models and information theory selection criteria. The Patagonian toothfish fed primarily on fish (morid cod Notophycis marginata, myctophids, rattails Macrourus holotrachys and Coelorinchus fasciatus, notothenids Patagonotothen ramsayi, and hoki Macruronus magellanicus), followed by cephalopods (Onykia ingens, Doryteuthis gahi) and shrimps (Acanthephyra pelagica). One case of cannibalism was recorded. The trophic level was 4.57 (4.22 juveniles, 4.78 adults). The pelagic fish and bathypelagic shrimp were more consumed in the east region, whereas demersal fish and cephalopods were more consumed in the west one. Ontogenetic dietary changes associated with TL and maturity stage were reported: pelagic fish and shrimp A. pelagica had the main importance in the diet of intermediate-sized toothfish, reinforcing the hypothesis that juveniles exhibited a bento-pelagic behavior. Demersal fish were more heavily consumed by juvenile specimens, and the size of demersal fish predated by Patagonian toothfish increased according to the predator TL. Cephalopods were more consumed by adults. The preference of sexually mature specimens for cephalopods could have a positive effect on spawning and egg quality.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the crew on board the commercial fishing vessel Centurión del Atlántico for the collection of the samples and the logistic support. We are grateful to the librarians from the Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero, Silvoni, Lizondo and Navas, for providing the most helpful documentation and to Mariano Gobet and Marcela Tobio from INIDEP for the figure of the species. A particular thanks to Julieta Sapienza Vera who revised the English grammar. We also thank the reviewers (Katja Mintenbeck, Paul Brickle and 3rd anonymous referee) for their critical revision of the MS and the suggestions received that improved the final result of this paper. This paper is INIDEP contribution 2215.
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All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed, in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution at which the study was conducted. This study was carried out with permission from the INIDEP (National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development) and the fishing companies, following the Argentinean regulations regarding health, environment, and safety.
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Supplementary file1 ESM 1: a) The Patagonian toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides from Southwest Atlantic Ocean, b) Belleggia Mauro holding a specimen during a research cruise carried out on the research vessel Dr. Eduardo Holmberg in 2009, c) Patagonian toothfish D. eleginoides hanging between Eduardo Aguilar and Gonzalo Troccoli aboard the commercial fishing vessel Centurión del Atlántico, d) Patagonian toothfish D. eleginoides hanging next to Eduardo Aguilar aboard the commercial fishing vessel Centurión del Atlántico (PDF 4344 kb)
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Supplementary file2 ESM 2: Cumulative prey curves as a function of sample size (n) for each group of specimens of the Patagonian toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides considered in the dietary analysis. Mean (continuous line) and ± 95% confidence interval (dashed lines) are plotted (EPS 50 kb)
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Troccoli, G.H., Aguilar, E., Martínez, P.A. et al. The diet of the Patagonian toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides, a deep-sea top predator off Southwest Atlantic Ocean. Polar Biol 43, 1595–1604 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-020-02730-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-020-02730-2