Trophic ecology of the Hubb's octopus Octopus hubbsorum (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) in the central Mexican Pacific

Abstract

The diet of the Hubb's octopus Octopus hubbsorum along the coast of Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, was determined by analysing the stomach contents of 413 individuals collected monthly between February 2017 and March 2018. Most stomachs (74.3%) presented contents, while 25.7% were empty. Sixty prey items were identified and grouped into 16 categories. The most frequent prey items were Petrolisthes sanfelipensis, Clastotoechus diffractus, Petrolisthes hians and Alpheus spp. Smith's index indicated that O. hubbsorum follows a generalist diet for each hydroclimatic season, sex and size class (1: juvenile; 2: young adult; 3: mature adult). Cannibalism was frequent among males, less so among females. Pianka's index revealed a higher overlap among the three size classes of both sexes during the dry season, while during the rainy season the overlap was reduced for size classes 2 and 3 in both sexes. The average isotopic values overall were δ13C −14.96‰ (±0.08) and δ15N 13.02‰ (±0.09). A significant difference (P = 0.005) was observed in δ13C among hydroclimatic seasons (rainy and dry) and size classes, while for δ15N a significant difference (P = 0.013) was observed between seasons. Stomach content analysis gave values of the trophic position of O. hubbsorum ranging from 3.57 to 3.72, whereas the values obtained using stable isotope analysis, using δ15N, ranged from 3.52 to 3.86. Variation was observed in isotopic niche size and Layman's metrics among hydroclimatic seasons. A higher isotopic niche overlap was observed between size classes 2 and 3 during the dry season. The rocky shore ecosystem has been heavily exploited by artisanal fisheries (fish and invertebrates). A more integrated, ecosystem-based management of these fisheries requires an understanding of their trophic structure.