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Feeding strategies and body condition of juvenile European flounder Platichthys flesus in a nursery habitat

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2020

C. Mendes Open the ORCID record for C. Mendes [Opens in a new window] ,
S. Ramos ,
M. Elliott  and
A. A. Bordalo
C. Mendes*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Hydrobiology and Ecology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313Porto, Portugal Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208Matosinhos, Portugal Department of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Hull, HullHU6 7RX, UK International Estuarine & Coastal Specialists Ltd, LevenHU17 5LQ, UK
S. Ramos
Affiliation:
Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208Matosinhos, Portugal International Estuarine & Coastal Specialists Ltd, LevenHU17 5LQ, UK
M. Elliott
Affiliation:
Department of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Hull, HullHU6 7RX, UK International Estuarine & Coastal Specialists Ltd, LevenHU17 5LQ, UK
A. A. Bordalo
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Hydrobiology and Ecology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313Porto, Portugal Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208Matosinhos, Portugal
*
Author for correspondence: C. Mendes, E-mail: claudiavrmendes@gmail.com
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Abstract

Estuarine habitats are major nurseries for the European flounder Platichthys flesus, with different year classes sharing food and space resources. Hence, an understanding of feeding strategies that optimize resource use and maintain carrying capacity is fundamental for sustainable and successful ecosystem management. The main feeding areas of juvenile European flounder (including 0-group and 1-group age classes) in the Lima estuary (northern Portugal) nursery ground were investigated by integrating stomach content analyses with stable isotopic values (δ13C and δ15N) and fish condition indices (Fulton K and RNA:DNA ratio). The 0-group flounder that were associated with the upstream section of the estuary presented the lowest δ13C value (−25.58 ± 1.86‰), while 1-group flounder exhibited a higher δ13C value (−22.59 ± 2.51‰), indicating use of the more saline areas of the estuary (lower and middle sections). The two age groups did not differ in terms of δ15N (0-group: 13.93 ± 0.29‰; 1-group: 13.50 ± 0.96‰), indicating similar trophic levels. The low salinity upper estuary was the main feeding area of 0-group flounder (74%), while 1-group flounder fed along the estuary both upstream (52%) and downstream (48%). Juvenile flounder showed high individual condition based on the Fulton K index (0-group: 1.05 ± 0.08; 1-group: 1.07 ± 0.05) and RNA:DNA (0-group: 1.70 ± 0.70; 1-group: 1.41 ± 0.47). These indices deal with fish health, and hence indicate nursery habitat quality. It is concluded that in this temperate nursery habitat, different feeding strategies sustained the condition of the European flounder juveniles, compared with other flounder populations.

Keywords

Conditionfeedinghabitat usenursery habitat qualitynursery
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 100 , Issue 5 , August 2020 , pp. 795 - 806
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2020

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