title: Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values of dorsal spine age rings indicate temporal variation in the diet of striped marlin (Kajikia audax) in waters around Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Billfishes, such as marlin, are top pelagic predators that play an important role in maintaining the stability of marine food webs. Notwithstanding the importance of these species, there remain gaps in our knowledge on their movements, foraging, and trophic status in the early stage of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured the δ(13)C and δ(15)N values in each annual growth band deposited in the dorsal spine from striped marlin caught off Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, to produce retrospective isotopic profiles that would enable us to detect any significant isotopic changes across development. The samples were analyzed using an elemental analyzer coupled to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no relationship between the size of striped marlin and the δ(15) N values. Differences in δ(15)N mean values across different age classes were not significant and the variation in δ(15)N values through the marlins' life cycle was less than 2‰. However, the mean δ(15)N values between individuals varied by up to 6‰. The δ(13)C values increased as a function of age, and the mean δ(13)C values varied significantly between age classes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fin spines can be used to construct retrospective isotopic histories for the investigation of trophic dynamics and migratory histories in billfishes, for which population dynamics are often poorly known.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Politécnico Nacional-CICIMAR, Departamento de pesquerías y biología marina, Avenida IPN s/n. La Paz, B.C.S., 23096, Mexico.
authors.forename: Tatiana A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Acosta-Pachón
authors.affiliation: Instituto Politécnico Nacional-CICIMAR, Departamento de pesquerías y biología marina, Avenida IPN s/n. La Paz, B.C.S., 23096, Mexico.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ortega-García
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Water and Atmospheric (NIWA) Research Ltd., Wellington, 6021, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Brittany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D058500:Animal Fins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D004032:Diet; D008800:Mexico; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D010473:Perciformes / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes