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dc.contributor.authorNielsen, Julius
dc.contributor.authorChristiansen, Jørgen Schou
dc.contributor.authorGrønkjær, Peter
dc.contributor.authorBushnell, Peter G.
dc.contributor.authorSteffensen, John Fleng
dc.contributor.authorKiilerich, Helene O.
dc.contributor.authorPræbel, Kim
dc.contributor.authorHedeholm, Rasmus
dc.date.accessioned2019-08-14T21:22:59Z
dc.date.available2019-08-14T21:22:59Z
dc.date.issued2019-04-04
dc.description.abstractCurrent knowledge on the feeding ecology of the Greenland shark (<i>Somniosus microcephalus</i>), a potential top predator in arctic marine ecosystems, is based on small sample sizes as well as narrow size ranges of sharks. Therefore, potential size-related feeding patterns remain poorly documented. Using stomach content data (<i>N</i> = 88) and stable isotope values of white muscle tissue (<i>N</i> = 40), this study evaluates the diet of sharks ranging in size from 81 to 474 cm (total length). The importance of prey categories (“Fish,” “Mammal,” “Squid,” “Crustacean,” and “Other”) was evaluated based on the reconstructed prey biomass of the stomach contents. Stable isotope values of δ13C and δ15N ranged between -14.4 to -19.9‰ and 11.8 to 17.2‰, respectively. The importance of each prey category was estimated by the Index of Relative Importance (IRI). Our findings suggest that the smallest Greenland sharks (<200 cm) feed on lower trophic level prey, predominantly squids. Larger sharks (>200 cm) mainly feed on higher trophic level prey such as seals, epibenthic and benthic fishes including gadoids (Gadidae), skates (Rajidae), righteye flounders (Pleuronectidae), lumpfish (Cyclopteridae), wolffish (Anarhichadidae), and redfish (Sebastidae). Redfish were, however, only found to be important in the largest sharks sampled (>400 cm). In addition to demonstrating ontogenetic shifts in their feeding preferences, this study supports that Greenland sharks are capable of active predation on fast swimming seals and large fishes.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipDanish Council for Independent Research, GINR Den Blå Planet-National Aquarium of Denmark Carlsberg Foundation Commission of Scientific Investigations in Greenland (KVUG) Danish Centre for Marine Research Save Our Seas Foundation National Geographic Foundation Publication fund of UiT The Arctic University of Norwayen_US
dc.descriptionSource at <a href=https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00125>https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00125</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.citationNielsen, J., Christiansen, J.S., Grønkjær, P., Bushnell, P., Steffensen, J.F., Kiilerich, H.O., ... Hedeholm, R. (2019). Greenland Shark (Somniosus microcephalus) Stomach Contents and Stable Isotope Values Reveal an Ontogenetic Dietary Shift. <i>Frontiers in Marine Science, 6</i>, 125. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00125en_US
dc.identifier.cristinIDFRIDAID 1690365
dc.identifier.doi10.3389/fmars.2019.00125
dc.identifier.issn2296-7745
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10037/15917
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherFrontiersen_US
dc.relation.journalFrontiers in Marine Science
dc.rights.accessRightsopenAccessen_US
dc.subjectVDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Zoology and botany: 480::Marine biology: 497en_US
dc.subjectVDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Zoologiske og botaniske fag: 480::Marinbiologi: 497en_US
dc.subjectGreenland sharken_US
dc.subjectdieten_US
dc.subjectfeeding ecologyen_US
dc.subjectstomach contenten_US
dc.subjectisotopesen_US
dc.titleGreenland Shark (Somniosus microcephalus) stomach contents and stable isotope values reveal an ontogenetic dietary shiften_US
dc.typeJournal articleen_US
dc.typeTidsskriftartikkelen_US
dc.typePeer revieweden_US


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