Foraging preferences of an apex marine predator revealed through stomach content and stable isotope analyses

Insights into the food habits of predators are essential for maintaining healthy predator populations and functioning ecosystems. Stomach content stable isotope analyses were used to investigate foraging an apex predator, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) in south-western Australia. A total 2,594 prey items from 26 families identified stomachs 10 deceased stranded dolphins. Fish otoliths stomach contents identify fish family or species level. Ninety-three percent perciforme fishes, however, perciformes comprised only 30% catch during sampling. Gobiidae species, small generally <100 mm length, most prevalent stomachs, accounting 82% prey, yet accounted 12.7% For analyses, tissue samples 14 free-ranging dolphins analyzed nitrogen (δ15N) carbon (δ13C) ratios. From boat-based photo-identification surveys (n = 339, 2007–2011), results indicated niche differentiation between coastal inshore (bay estuarine habitat) Carbon signatures showed that had a more pelagic diet compared benthic observed Whereas, higher levels than dolphins, likely attributed feeding on enriched typical estuarian environments. Overall, these study area selective foragers their is specialized by habitats frequently used.