Using Stable Isotope Techniques to Analyze the Trophic Relationship between Argentine Hake (Merluccius hubbsi) and Anisakidae

The Argentine hake (Merluccius hubbsi) is a vital fishery species in the Southwest Atlantic, recognized for its substantial economic importance. Previous studies have identified Anisakidae larvae as common parasites of M. hubbsi. However, the nutritional relationships between these parasites and their host remain poorly understood. This study employs stable isotope techniques to investigate the specific nutritional relationships between Anisakidae larvae and different tissues of M. hubbsi. The findings reveal notable differences in δ13C and δ15N compositions between the parasites and their host. The lower δ13C values in parasites compared to host tissues indicate the utilization of different carbon sources. The δ15N values of the parasites partially overlap with those of the host’s stomach, indicating that the parasites primarily derive nutrients from the host’s stomach. Nutritional niche indicators show that parasites have a broad carbon range (CR) and nitrogen range (NR), suggesting a high diversity in nutritional sources. The trophic discrimination factor (ΔTDF), which represents the difference in stable isotope values between host tissues and parasites, was analyzed for both δ13C and δ15N. The ΔTDFδ13C between the host liver and the parasites showed the greatest variation, indicating a strong dependence of the parasites on the liver’s carbon sources. In contrast, variations in ΔTDFδ15N between host tissues and parasites were minimal. Analyzing ΔTDF across different stages of gonadal maturity in the host fish indicates that, as the gonads of the host fish mature, ΔTDFδ13C between host tissues and parasites significantly decreases (p < 0.01). The Kruskal–Wallis test showed significant differences in ΔTDFδ13C values among different parasite infection levels in muscle, liver, and stomach tissues, while no significant differences were found for ΔTDFδ15N values. These findings offer valuable insights into the nutritional relationships between parasites and hosts, aiding in a better understanding of the growth conditions and habitats of M. hubbsi.