Trophic inferences of the gray triggerfish Balistes capriscus based on stable isotopes analyses, in the Colombian Caribbean

• Published in: Journal of sea research 2021-12, Vol.178, p.102140, Article 102140
• Main Authors: Castellanos-Jimenez, Maria C., Polo-Silva, Carlos J., Sanjuan-Muñoz, Adolfo, Delgado-Huertas, Antonio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Balistes capriscus; Bayesian analysis; Benthos; Colombian Caribbean; Demersal fish; Economics; Expeditions; Fish; Fisheries; Fishery resources; Fishing; Habitat selection; Habitat utilization; Isotopes; Juveniles; Landing statistics; Marine fishes; Multiship expeditions; Ontogenetic shift; Ontogeny; Pelagic fisheries; Pelagic zone; Pots; Prey; Probability theory; Research expeditions; Small-scale fisheries; Stable isotopes; Stables isotopes; Stomach content; Trophic ecology
• ISSN: 1385-1101; 1873-1414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seares.2021.102140

The demersal fish are a commercial resource of small-scale fisheries of northern Colombian Caribbean. Balistes capriscus is frequently and important in fishing landings, but this species has not economic value and its trophic ecology is unknown. Due to this, the diet was examined using the stomach contents and stable isotopes analysis. The individuals were collected with fish pots during two seasonal research expeditions in May and August of 2018. The δ15N and δ13C values were significantly different between size classes, indicating ontogenetic shifts in habitat use and consumption of prey. The δ13C shows that the triggerfish tends to feed in areas closer to the coast and his source of its origin can possibly change from the pelagic zone when they are juveniles, to the benthic trophic networks in his adulthood. The trophic position mean according to Bayesian inferences and Post's estimates was 2.98 and 3.03 and increased with size. Likewise, isotopic niche width corroborates the ontogenetic shift related with the maturity groups. •Trophic inferences of gray triggerfish in the Colombian Caribbean were assessed by stable isotopes analysis.•SIA analysis showed ontogenetic shift in the diet and habitat use of Balistes capriscus.•δ15N and δ13C values increased with size.•δ13C values showed that gray triggerfish tends to feed in areas closer to the coast.