Trophic guilds and niche segregation among marine megafauna in the Bay of Biscay.

The structure and functioning of ecosystems are largely determined by the interactions between species within a biological community. Among these interactions, species exhibiting similar vertical and spatial prey preferences can be identified, thereby belonging to the same trophic guild. Our study explored some trophic characteristics of a diverse megafaunal community (cetaceans, tunas, seabirds) in the Bay of Biscay (BoB).

Microplastic ingestion by pelagic and benthic fish and diet composition: A case study in the NW Iberian shelf.

We evaluated the incidence of microplastics in the digestive tract contents of four fish species: Engraulis encrasicolus, Sardina pilchardus, Callionymus lyra and Mullus surmuletus. Alkaline digestion (10% KOH) was used to degrade the organic matter. The percentage of fish with microplastics was 78% (88% fibres, 12% fragments).

Spatio-temporal variability in the cannibalistic behaviour of European hake Merluccius merluccius: the influence of recruit abundance and prey availability.

Cannibalistic behaviour of European hake Merluccius merluccius was studied through the analysis of 49 836 gut contents belonging to individuals from 6 to 82 cm in total length (L(T)). Samples were collected every autumn between 1993 and 2009. The results showed that the consumption of conspecific individuals was consistent over space and time.

Metazoan parasite communities and diet of the velvet belly lantern shark Etmopterus spinax (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae): a comparison of two deep-sea ecosystems.

By combining an examination of stomach contents yielding a snapshot of the most recent trophic niche and the structure of parasite communities reflecting a long-term feeding niche, this study aimed at gaining more comprehensive information on the role of the small-sized deep-water velvet belly lantern shark Etmopterus spinax in the local food webs of the Galicia Bank and the canyon and valley system of the Avilés Canyon, which have been both proposed for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network of protected areas. As far as is known, this study provides the first comparative parasite infracommunity data for a deep-sea shark species. Component parasite communities in E.