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Trophic niche separation in sympatric rocky shore crabs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2019

Zainab Al-Wazzan Open the ORCID record for Zainab Al-Wazzan [Opens in a new window] ,
Luis Giménez ,
Manaf Behbehani  and
Lewis Le Vay
Zainab Al-Wazzan*
Affiliation:
School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Isle of Anglesey, LL59 5AB, UK
Luis Giménez
Affiliation:
School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Isle of Anglesey, LL59 5AB, UK
Manaf Behbehani
Affiliation:
Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Kuwait University, Al-Fintas, State of Kuwait
Lewis Le Vay
Affiliation:
School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Isle of Anglesey, LL59 5AB, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Z. Al-Wazzan, E-mail: z.al-wazzan@bangor.ac.uk, zoology13@gmail.com
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Abstract

Where two species occupy the same habitat and similar niches, competition is likely to drive small-scale spatial niche separation or resource partitioning that may not be immediately apparent. A stable isotope approach was used to investigate potential trophic niche separation between co-existing rocky shore crabs in the North-West (NW) Arabian Gulf. Leptodius exaratus and Pilumnopeus convexus which occupy similar shore height on the same rocky intertidal habitats. We also investigated conspecific differences between males vs females and adults vs juveniles. δ15N results indicated that adults of both species occupy a high trophic level in the rocky shore community, suggesting similar functional roles and potential for competition for food resources, while significant differences in δ13C values indicated differences in dietary sources between the two species, and also changes in diet between juveniles and adults in both species. MixSIAR analysis of δ15N and δ13C data confirmed field observations that both species are generalist omnivores, with potential for direct competition including adult predation on juveniles, including conspecifics. Differentiation in isotopic niches (SIBER analysis) was mainly driven by the significant differences in δ13C values, suggesting that co-existence of the two crab species is at least in part mediated by trophic niche separation or dietary resource partitioning, with some (unquantified) potential for spatial resource partitioning at the microhabitat level.

Keywords

Arabian Gulfcompetitionintertidalstable isotopetrophic ecology
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 99 , Issue 5 , August 2019 , pp. 1171 - 1180
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2019 

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