IIMYC   23581
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES MARINAS Y COSTERAS
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Feeding habits of two sympatric dolphin species off North Patagonia - Argentina.
Autor/es:
ROMERO, MARÍA ALEJANDRA; DANS, SILVANA; GARCÍA, NESTOR; SVENDSEN, GUILLERMO; GONZÁLEZ, RAÚL; CRESPO, ENRIQUE A.
Revista:
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE
Editorial:
WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC
Referencias:
Lugar: Lawrence, Kansas; Año: 2012 vol. 28 p. 364 - 377
ISSN:
0824-0469
Resumen:
On the Argentine Continental Shelf, the common dolphin Delphinus delphis and dusky dolphin Lagenorhynchus obscurus are abundant small cetaceans. Between 35°S and 43°S off North Patagonia these species are sympatric, and mixed-aggregations are frequently observed in this area. We present a comparative analysis of the diet and feeding habits of common and dusky dolphins in the region, in order to analyze how these species are using the available food resources. The Argentine anchovy Engraulis anchoita was the primary prey for both species, followed by the South American long-fin squid Loligo sanpaulensis. In North Patagonia, common and dusky dolphins feed mainly on the locally most abundant pelagic species that exhibit pelagic schooling behavior. The similarity of diet and overlap could cause a high degree of competition for food. However, the high abundance of anchovy in the sympatric area may support a trophic coexistence between of the species, at least at certain times of the year.