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Peer-reviewedCC BYEcology and Evolution

Dynamic Resource Partitioning in a Marine Predator Community

  • T. Carpenter‐Kling1,2
  • M. Connan1
  • R. R. Reisinger3
  • A. B. Makhado4
  • P. G. Ryan5
  • P. A. Pistorius1,2
5 affiliations
  1. 1Marine Apex Predator Research Unit (MAPRU), Department of Zoology, Institute for Coastal and Marine Research Nelson Mandela University Gqeberha South Africa
  2. 2DST‐NRF Centre of Excellence at the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology Nelson Mandela University Gqeberha South Africa
  3. 3School of Ocean and Earth Science University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre Southampton Southampton UK
  4. 4Oceans and Coasts Research, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Cape Town South Africa
  5. 5FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology University of Cape Town Rondebosch South Africa
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Abstract

To avoid competition, species partition resource‐use along various niche axes. However, variable resource availability, especially within dynamic environments, may influence this partitioning. Theory predicts that species will contract their ecological niche to limit competition during times of resource scarcity. We analysed blood δ ¹³ C and δ ¹⁵ N composition in four albatrosses, four penguin, two giant petrel and two fur seal species breeding on sub‐Antarctic Marion Island, during two seasons (autumn and summer) over 3 years. Using the species' seasonal stable isotopic niche space as a proxy for trophic niche space, we investigated their trophic dynamics and maintenance of inter‐specific resource partitioning. There were significant variations in the seasonal and inter‐annual trophic niches of these predators. However, despite this high seasonal and annual variability, resource partitioning among the species was maintained over time. Between years, there was greater variability in the species' trophic niches in autumn than in summer. This might reflect species being better able to track productive dynamic oceanographic features during autumn, when most species are less spatially constrained by breeding commitments compared to during summer. Our results indicate that most of these marine predators have foraging behaviours that are either sufficiently flexible or general to cope with resources that are variable in space and time. Their foraging strategies minimise inter‐specific overlap in food or foraging habitat preferences, potentially resulting from historic or present competition for resources.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{carpenterkling2026dynamic,
  title = {{Dynamic Resource Partitioning in a Marine Predator Community}},
  author = {T. Carpenter‐Kling and M. Connan and R. R. Reisinger and A. B. Makhado and P. G. Ryan and P. A. Pistorius},
  journal = {Ecology and Evolution},
  year = {2026},
  month = nov,
  doi = {10.1002/ece3.74579},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.74579},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Dynamic Resource Partitioning in a Marine Predator Community
AU  - T. Carpenter‐Kling
AU  - M. Connan
AU  - R. R. Reisinger
AU  - A. B. Makhado
AU  - P. G. Ryan
AU  - P. A. Pistorius
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/11/01
JO  - Ecology and Evolution
DO  - 10.1002/ece3.74579
UR  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.74579
AB  - To avoid competition, species partition resource‐use along various niche axes. However, variable resource availability, especially within dynamic environments, may influence this partitioning. Theory predicts that species will contract their ecological niche to limit competition during times of resource scarcity. We analysed blood δ ¹³ C and δ ¹⁵ N composition in four albatrosses, four penguin, two giant petrel and two fur seal species breeding on sub‐Antarctic Marion Island, during two seasons (autumn and summer) over 3 years. Using the species' seasonal stable isotopic niche space as a proxy for trophic niche space, we investigated their trophic dynamics and maintenance of inter‐specific resource partitioning. There were significant variations in the seasonal and inter‐annual trophic niches of these predators. However, despite this high seasonal and annual variability, resource partitioning among the species was maintained over time. Between years, there was greater variability in the species' trophic niches in autumn than in summer. This might reflect species being better able to track productive dynamic oceanographic features during autumn, when most species are less spatially constrained by breeding commitments compared to during summer. Our results indicate that most of these marine predators have foraging behaviours that are either sufficiently flexible or general to cope with resources that are variable in space and time. Their foraging strategies minimise inter‐specific overlap in food or foraging habitat preferences, potentially resulting from historic or present competition for resources.
SN  - 2045-7758
SN  - 2045-7758
ER  -