Isotopic offset between muscle and scales of three mediterranean fishes: Dentex dentex, Argyrosomus regius and Xyrichtys novacula, at marine protected areas

Abstract

The present work test fish-scale sampling as a non-lethal technique for trophic level assessment instead of muscle isotopic determinations in fishes Dentex dentex, Argyrosomus regius and Xyrichtys novacula. The isotopic offset (Δ Cand Δ N) between muscle and scales indicate that the application of scales instead of muscle allow to apply non -lethal methods on isotopic studies regarding fish species for conservation purposes. This technique has been proven to be appropriate for trophic studies of fishes at marine protected areas