Data from: Age-based δ15N and δ13C values of otolith organic matter reveal trophic ecology in marine fishes

Fish inhabiting a similar environment confront space and resource sharing
and thus develop diverse feeding strategies to adjust their trophic niches
during the ontogeny to avoid competition. To explore the topic, we
reconstructed the trophic trajectory of five Sciaenidae species by
sequentially analysing the δ13C and δ15N values of otolith organic matter
along the growth axis of the otolith. The isotope values were aligned to
the age based on growth ring counting and 3D scanning of otolith
morphology during organic matter extraction. The δ13C and δ15N values
revealed the habitat shift and trophic levels of prey items, respectively.
Sciaenidae fish use the benthic resources during their whole life and may
move close to the estuary around 1.5-3 years old. They mainly prey on
herbivores/zooplankton at the larval and early juvenile stage, but when
they grow, there is minimisation of competition among age groups and
species.