Reyes-Ramírez, H., A., Tripp-Valdez, A., Piñón-Gimate, F.R., Elorriaga-Verplancken, K., Soto-López, A., Delgado-Huertas, F., Galván-Magaña & M.J., Zetina-Rejón (2025). Feeding ecology, trophic level, and isotopic niche among batoid species in the northwestern coast of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. Regional Studies in Marine Science. 89: 104317. DOI: 10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104317.
Henrry Reyes-Ramírez 1, Arturo Tripp-Valdez 1, Alejandra Piñón-Gimate 1, Fernando R. Elorriaga-Verplancken 1, Katherin Soto-López 2, Antonio Delgado-Huertas 3, Felipe Galván-Magaña 1 y Manuel J. Zetina-Rejón 1
The trophic sympatry of ray species provides ecological information to understand the role they play in the ecosystem. A total of 1056 muscle tissue samples from nine batoid species were analyzed to compare their trophic interactions through isotopic analysis. The muscle samples of rays were obtained between 2012 and 2017 from specimens caught by artisanal fishery at Bahía Tortugas in the northwestern coast of Baja California, Mexico. Prey muscle tissue samples were obtained from the stomach contents of the captured ray species. Stable isotopes analysis (SIA) of d13C and d15N of ray species and their prey were quantified to determine diet contribution of prey, isotopic niche width (INW) and trophic position (TP). The d15N values showed that ray species are third and second order predators; while the d13C values highlight the use of oceanic areas for feeding, except for Narcine entemedor, Hypanus dipterurus and H. longus, which have coastal feeding habits. An isotopic mixing model showed that portunid crabs and demersal fish are the most frequent prey in rays' diet in this area. The TP of batoids showed a range of 3.3–4.3. The INW indicated that Rostroraja velezi and Zapteryx exasperata are specialist predators and the rest of the species are generalists. Myliobatis californica and Gymnura marmorata presented 59 % isotope niche overlap. No significant differences were recorded between sex or ontogenetic development. The oceanic conditions present in the west of the Baja California Peninsula highlight the availability of trophic resources used by the batoid community, showing trophic segregation as a coexistence strategy.
Palabras clave: batoids; Trophic ecology; stable isotopes; Niche overlap; Diet composition
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