Mother–offspring isotope fractionation in two species of placentatrophic sharks

Authors

Jeremy J. Vaudo, Department of Biological Sciences and Marine Sciences Program, Florida International UniversityFollow
P. Matich, Department of Biological Sciences and Marine Sciences Program, Florida International UniversityFollow
Michael R. Heithaus, Department of Biological Sciences and Marine Sciences Program, Florida International UniversityFollow

Abstract

Stable-isotope values of a scalloped hammerhead Sphyrna lewini and blacktip shark Carcharhinus limbatus and their respective embryos were analysed. Embryos of both species were enriched in δ¹⁵N compared to their mothers (0·82 and 0·88‰, respectively), but fractionation of δ¹³C varied. Embryonic S. lewini were enriched (1·00‰) in δ¹³C while C. limbatus were depleted (0·27‰) relative to their mothers.

Comments

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation through the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research program under Cooperative Agreements #DBI-0620409 and #DEB-9910514. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Recommended Citation

Vaudo, J.J., P. Matich, M.R. Heithaus. 2010. Mother-offspring isotope fractionation in two species of placentatrophic sharks. Journal of Fish Biology 77(7): 1724-1727.