Trophic niche partitioning in marine wood-borers revealed by stable isotope analysis

Marine wood-borers often live in sympatry, sharing deadwood scattered at sea, both as food and habitat. In this study, carbon and nitrogen isotope compositions were determined to test the hypothesis that the trophic niches of Chelura terebrans , Limnoria quadripunctata , and Nototeredo norvagica obtained from softwood boards maintained in running, unfiltered seawater are different. Comparison of isotope compositions supports niche partitioning,...