Title
Feeding preferences of West Indian manatees in Florida, Belize, and Puerto Rico as indicated by stable isotope analysis
Abbreviated Journal Title
Mar. Ecol.-Prog. Ser.
Keywords
Stable isotope; West Indian manatee; Seagrass; Aquatic plants; C-13; N-15; Feeding ecology; Mixing model; FREE-RANGING MANATEES; TRICHECHUS-MANATUS; NITROGEN ISOTOPES; CARBON; ISOTOPES; TURNOVER RATES; DIET; FOOD; VARIABILITY; DELTA-N-15; HABITS; Ecology; Marine & Freshwater Biology; Oceanography
Abstract
The endangered West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus has 2 recognized subspecies: the Florida T. m. latirostris and Antillean T. m. manatus manatee, both of which are found in freshwater, estuarine, and marine habitats. A better understanding of manatee feeding preferences and habitat use is essential to establish criteria on which conservation plans can be based. Skin from manatees in Florida, Belize, and Puerto Rico, as well as aquatic vegetation from their presumed diet, were analyzed for stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios. This is the first application of stable isotope analysis to Antillean manatees. Stable isotope ratios for aquatic vegetation differed by plant type (freshwater, estuarine, and marine), collection location, and in one instance, season. Carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios for manatee skin differed between collection location and in one instance, season, but did not differ between sex or age class. Signatures in the skin of manatees sampled in Belize and Puerto Rico indicated a diet composed primarily of seagrasses, whereas those of Florida manatees exhibited greater regional variation. Mixing model results indicated that manatees sampled from Crystal River and Homosassa Springs (Florida, USA) ate primarily freshwater vegetation, whereas manatees sampled from Big Bend Power Plant, Ten Thousand Islands, and Warm Mineral Springs (Florida) fed primarily on seagrasses. Possible diet tissue discrimination values for N-15 were estimated to range from 1.0 to 1.5 parts per thousand. Stable isotope analysis can be used to interpret manatee feeding behavior over a long period of time, specifically the use of freshwater vegetation versus seagrasses, and can aid in identifying critical habitats and improving conservation efforts.
Journal Title
Marine Ecology Progress Series
Volume
402
Publication Date
1-1-2010
Document Type
Article
DOI Link
Language
English
First Page
255
Last Page
267
WOS Identifier
ISSN
0171-8630
Recommended Citation
"Feeding preferences of West Indian manatees in Florida, Belize, and Puerto Rico as indicated by stable isotope analysis" (2010). Faculty Bibliography 2010s. 6946.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/facultybib2010/6946
Comments
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