Dietary habits change of Lessepsian migrants’ fish from the Red Sea to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

• DOI: 10.3391/ai.2023.18.4.113532
• Publication Date: 2023-11-08T16:17:47Z
• Authors: Rami Tsadok; Ziv Zemah-Shamir; Eli Shemesh; Stephane Martinez; Debra Ramon; Itai Kolski; Anat Tsemel; Dan Tchernov
• Keywords: Isotope Analysis

As impacts on the Mediterranean Sea are expected to grow in future, especially with climate change, habitat degradation, and displacement of native species by non-indigenous (NIS), investigation significant alterations trophic levels this diverse marine is important. Analysis stable isotopes from targeted consumers has previously been shown reliably reflect that primary producers, thus enabling us describe highlight potential shifts food web a particular ecosystem. In study, we used δ 13 C values essential amino acids (AA) order examine dietary composition established non-native, Lessepsian fish migrants Eastern compared same their original population Gulf Aqaba, Red Sea. Our data show clear variance carbon isotopic signatures exists sources consumed between different environments, exception classic herbivore, Siganus rivulatus (Forsskål & Niebuhr, 1775), whose very similar patterns algal source they predominantly consume both locations. With results research, propose fishes ability maintain nutritional patterns, though not necessarily source, will acclimatize better new habitat. Consequences flourishing populations include further tropicalization likely restructuring local webs.