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Abstract

The southern rock lobster Jasus edwardsii is a commercial species that has benefited
from the complete protection offered by no-take reserves, with higher abundances and larger ani-
mals recorded in reserves than in adjacent fished areas. What remains unclear is whether there is any
change in the diet of lobsters in reserves, for example, as a result of increased intraspecific competi-
tion for food. We used combined chemical tracers to examine the diet of lobsters in fished and reserve
areas in 2 bioregions in eastern Tasmania. δ15N values of lobsters were richer in fished than in reserve
areas, indicating that lobsters eat a greater proportion of food items from higher trophic levels in
fished areas. Mixing models suggest that ascidians, sea urchins and the turbinid gastropod were all
important food sources for lobsters, but the importance of these food items differed between biore-
gions. This spatial variability may suggest thatthe small size of the reserve in one bioregion is inad-
equate at ensuring the diet of lobsters is protected from fishing pressure. Fatty acid profiles of lobsters
supported the importance of these food sources to lobsters. Differences between bioregions, or inside
and outside of reserves, were not apparent using fatty acids. The present study highlights that lobster
fishing has the capacity to alter the trophic status of prey for generalist predators and suggests that
fatty acid analyses may be limited in detecting changes in the dietary composition of such generalist
feeders.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Guest, MA and Frusher, SD and Nichols, PD and Johnson, CR and Wheatley, KE
Keywords:	Effects of fishing · Food webs · Marine protected areas · Stable isotopes · Fatty acids
Journal or Publication Title:	Marine Ecology Progress Series
ISSN:	Print 0171-8630 Online 1616-1599
DOI / ID Number:	https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08096
Additional Information:	© Inter-Research 2009
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

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