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Dietary connections of marine species in Puget Sound

Published Article

United States, Washington

Publication date: November 27, 2025

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Using stable‑isotope data, this study reconstructs trophic pathways linking 13 marine consumers to basal sources in coastal ecosystems. Macroalgae contributed nearly 60% of dietary input across species, far exceeding particulate organic material and eelgrass. Young‑of‑the‑year rockfish relied more on POM and eelgrass than older juveniles, revealing shifting trophic dependencies. These insights strengthen ecosystem‑based fisheries management by clarifying how habitat changes may cascade through food webs.

Subject Tags

  • Fisheries
  • Wildlife
  • Coastal

Abstract

Ecosystem-based fisheries management requires an understanding of the interactions between managed and unmanaged species and the connections they have with their habitats. Although aquatic plants provide important shelter for a variety of species, an often-overlooked component is the extent to which primary producers contribute to the diet of upper trophic levels. In this study, we reconstructed the dietary connections among 13 consumers, including vulnerable rockfish species, to 3 basal sources: particulate organic material (POM), eelgrass and macroalgae. Using stable isotope ratio data, macroalgae was estimated to represent the greatest contribution to the diets of 11 consumers, with an average percent dietary contribution of 59% across all consumers, relative to POM (24%) and eelgrass (15%). For young-of-the-year rockfish (Sebastes sp.), POM and eelgrass together comprise approximately 48% of their basal diet, yet these same sources contributed <25% to the basal diets for older juvenile copper and quillback rockfishes (S. caurinus and S. maliger, respectively). Understanding the strength of these trophic relationships is an important step for predicting ecosystem consequences following perturbations within these habitats, and such information is vital to managers making decisions related to the conservation of valuable populations.

Citation

Chittaro, P., Andrews, K., Tolimieri, N., Gates, J., Buckner, E., Sosik, E., Conway-Cranos, L., Howe, E., & Tonnes, D. (2025). Dietary connections of marine species in Puget Sound. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 774, 17-34. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14975

TNC Authors

  • Emily R. Howe
    Senior Aquatic Ecologist, Washington
    The Nature Conservancy
    Email: emily.howe@tnc.org