| Understanding drivers of trophic partitioning at the community level is an essential prerequisite to the establishment of ecosystem-based management of fisheries. In this study, we identify drivers of trophic partitioning within a community of epipelagic fish and a community of deep-water fishes off Reunion Island. Effects of intrinsic (species identity, etc.) and environmental variables (fishing zone, month) on stomach content composition and stable isotope ratios were tested using regression trees and linear models respectively. Our results demonstrated firstly an independence of both communities, with very few common prey although they occurred in similar localities, and secondly, very different patterns of resources partitioning among each community.... |
