| The comparative analysis of the food habits between top predator allows the evaluation of how these species use the trophic resources. They also make possible the study of potentially competitive relationships and the role of these predators in the regulation and structure of the community. The marine community of northern and central Patagonia is structured on the tri-trophic system composed by the Argentine anchovy (Engraulis anchoita), the Argentine shortfin squid (Illex argentinus), and Argentine hake (Merluccius hubbsi). Several marine mammals and elasmobranchs use these species as food resources. For this reason, the objective of this work was to analyze comparatively the diet of the South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens), the dusky dolphin... |
