The adaptive strategies of species to differentiated habitats represent a universal ecological principle. This study takes Chauliodus sloani, a dominant mesopelagic fish in cold seep-adjacent waters, as a model to explore the adaptive patterns of its trophic niche in differentiated habitats. In August 2023, C. sloani samples were collected at different depths (75–750 m) and regions (cold seep and non-cold seep areas). Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope techniques were employed to characterize their trophic niche attributes. Results indicated that the δ13C value of C. sloani in cold seep-adjacent waters was −19.29 ± 0.31 ‰, δ15N was 9.83 ± 0.53 ‰, and the trophic level was 3.37 ± 0.68. Trophic indicators including carbon isotope range (CR), nitrogen isotope range (NR), mean centroid distance (CD), mean nearest neighbor distance (MNND), and standard deviation of MNND (SDNND) were higher in non-cold seep areas than in cold seep areas at the same water depth. This supports that C. sloani in cold seep areas exhibit lower dietary diversity but higher redundancy and evenness, endowing populations with stronger anti-disturbance capabilities. The directional changes in trophic structures further validated this result, confirming more stable trophic structures in cold seep populations. At 750 m depth, C. sloani exhibited minimal overlap in core trophic niche (SEAc) with other depths, demonstrating significant niche differentiation and independent population establishment at the strata. Zooplankton constituted the primary food source of C. sloani, but the contribution ratio of food sources varied significantly with depth. The contribution ratio of cephalopod prey increased with increasing water depth. This research elucidates both the adaptive strategies of C. sloani trophic niches across heterogeneous habitats and verifies distinctive diel vertical migration behaviors in mesopelagic fishes, offering novel insights into deep-sea organism survival mechanisms within complex ecosystems and associated energy transfer pathways.
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