Resource partitioning in a cetacean community from Uruguayan waters

VALDIVIA, MEICA; VALENZUELA, LUCIANO O.; BERRIEL, VERÓNICA; RODRÍGUEZ, DIEGO; LAPORTA, PAULA; DRAGO, MASSIMILIANO; CANI, ALESSANDRA; BERGAMINO, LEANDRO

MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2023

0824-0469

The study of resource partitioning within a community iscentral to understanding the processes that enable interspecificcompetition and coexistence. This study aimed to understandthe resource partitioning and habitat preferences amongodontocetes in Uruguay.We analyzed stable carbon and nitrogenisotopes data from the bone tissue of common dolphins(Delphinus delphis), Fraser´s dolphins (Lagenodelphis hosei), falsekiller whales (Pseudorca crassidens), Lahille´s bottlenose dolphins(Tursiops truncatus gephyreus), Burmeister´s porpoises(Phocoena spinipinnis), and franciscana dolphins(Pontoporia blainvillei). Based on the isotopic values, falsekiller whale individuals were divided into two differentecological groups (ecotype 1 and 2). Isotopic values alsosuggest that franciscana dolphins, Burmeister´s porpoises,Lahille´s bottlenose dolphins, and false killer whales ecotype1 feed on the continental shelf and/or high trophiclevel preys. At the other end of the gradient, values suggestFraser´s dolphins and false killer whales ecotype 2 useresources from the oceanic environment and/or lower trophicpreys. Isotopic niche overlap was found between thecommon dolphin and Lahille´s bottlenose dolphin andbetween Lahille´s bottlenose dolphin and false killer whaleecotype 1. This work provides novel basic informationabout the trophic habit and feeding habitat of the odontocetesinhabiting one of the most important estuaries ofSouth America.