6533b834fe1ef96bd129cc87

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Consumption of pelagic tunicates by cetaceans calves in the Mediterranean Sea

Francisco Javier AznarNatalia Fraija-fernándezAlfonso A. Ramos-espláMaría ÁNgeles RaduánCarmen BlancoJuan Antonio Raga

subject

0106 biological sciencesMediterranean climateGelatinous zooplanktonJellyfishEnvironmental Engineeringjuvenile cetaceanZoologyStomach contentAquatic ScienceOceanography010603 evolutionary biology01 natural sciencesPredationSuction feedingWater columnMediterranean seaRisso’s dolphinbiology.animalZoologíasuction feedingEcology Evolution Behavior and SystematicsCommon minke whaleJuvenile cetaceanbiologyPyrosoma010604 marine biology & hydrobiologyfungiPelagic zoneSalpa.Salpabiology.organism_classificationstomach contentsPelagic tunicatesEcological significancecommon minke whale

description

Gelatinous zooplankton, including jellyfish, ctenophores and pelagic tunicates, constitutes fragile marine animals that live in the water column, and represent an important resource for marine food webs through their seasonal pulses. Although there is scarce evidence on the occurrence of gelatinous zooplankton in stomach contents of apex, endothermic predators such as cetaceans, the ecological significance of such observations requires consideration. In this study, we report on the occurrence of pelagic tunicates in the stomach of three individual calves of two cetacean species from the western Mediterranean, and collate all previous reports of gelatinous zooplankton in cetacean diets. We then briefly discuss the possible dietary significance of these observations. This study was financially supported by projects CGL/2012/39545 and AGL2015/68405/R (Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness) and PROMETEO II/2015/018 (Generalitat Valenciana, Spain).

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2018-07-24
10.12681/mms.15890https://hdl.handle.net/10045/77953