Trophic level
Trophic level on World Data Ocean: a running collection of 2 stories we have gathered and hand-picked because they are worth your time. Every post here touches on trophic level in some way — the news, the analysis, the deep dives, and the occasional surprise find. A Global Hub for Ocean Intelligence 4 World Data Ocean is a centralized digital platform where researchers, scientists, and ocean enthusiasts converge to explore, analyze, and… New stories are added to this page as we find them, so check back if you want to keep up with what is happening around trophic level, or subscribe to the RSS feed to get them as soon as they are published. Browse the collection below, or head back to the homepage to see everything World Data Ocean is covering right now.
Multi-tissue δ13C and δ15N analysis reveals pre-stranding ecological patterns in a long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) mass stranding event
Marine mammal mass stranding events (MSEs) demand rigorous investigation into contributing factors. A recent Scottish MSE involving 55 long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) provided a unique opportunity to analyze pre-stranding feeding ecology via stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ15N) across liver, skin, and muscle tissues. Findings revealed consistent resource use patterns and minimal dietary shifts, suggesting no recent habitat changes preceded the event.
Disentangling the structure of an Antarctic plankton food web in bloom and non-bloom conditions
Understanding Antarctic marine ecosystems requires a clearer picture of plankton food web dynamics. This study, utilizing a network-based approach, disentangles these trophic relationships in Potter Cove under both phytoplankton bloom and non-bloom conditions, drawing on a 30-year longitudinal dataset. Findings reveal increased food availability for higher trophic levels during blooms, while microzooplankton play a crucial role in energy transfer during non-bloom periods.