A review on the methods of aquatic food web research: development and applications

• 1、College of Marine Sciences of Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306
• 2、 The Key Laboratory of Sustainable Exploitation of Oceanic Fisheries Resources, Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201306
• 3、 National Engineering Research Center for Oceanic Fisheries, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306
• 4、 Key Laboratory of Oceanic Fisheries Exploration, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai 201306

Abstract：IDescribing predator-prey relationship among organisms is essential in the food web studies of aquatic ecosystems. Traditional method of food web research is based on the morphological observation of the stomach content. With the development of science and technology, new methodological approaches such as stable isotope analysis, fatty acid profiling and DNA barcoding effectively avoid the limitations of stomach content analysis and provide a deeper understanding of the feeding information of aquatic organisms, which have been widely used in feeding ecology studies. In this paper, the development trend of research methods of aquatic food web was introduced. The current status of stable isotope analysis, fatty acid profiling and DNA barcoding technique combined with stomach contents technique were reviewed, respectively, focusing on the application and development of the four methods, the comparison of their advantages and limitations, the applicable scope and assumptions, and the requirements for available experimental samples. These areas are discussed in terms of assumptions made when applying these techniques to the study of aquatic ecology and the combinations of these techniques that investigators use for different studying objectives. Recommendations are made for future aquatic feeding ecology experimental work that would improve understanding the food web structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems. As the traditional research method, stomach content analysis remains an unreplaceable part in the study of feeding ecology. Stable isotopes, fatty acid profiling and DNA barcoding and other molecular techniques will be strong complements to stomach contents analysis and provide the additionally useful information on reconstructing aquatic food webs, which would be helpful for the ecosystem-based fishery management.

Keywords： Science of Fisheries Resources Aquatic ecosystem stomach content analysis stable isotope fatty acid DNA barcoding