Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Interspecies Differences In Food Sources For The Tropical Callichirid Shrimp Neocallichirus Spp. On San Salvador Island, Bahamas, Koji Seike, H. Allen Curran

Geosciences: Faculty Publications

At least 4 species of callichirid shrimp coexist in the shallow marine settings of San Salvador Island, an isolated, small platform of the all-carbonates Bahama Archipelago, implying that interspecific competition or trophic niche segregation occurs between these shrimp species. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses were conducted on soft tissues of 3 callichirid species, Neocallichirus cacahuate, N. grandimana, and N. maryae, to determine the food sources for each species. These analyses revealed that the isotopic trophic niches for these 3 species do not overlap. The most important food source for all 3 species was manatee grass Syringodium filiforme …