Deciphering the structure of the West Greenland marine food web using stable isotopes (δ13C, δ15N)

Linnebjerg, Jannie Fries; Hobson, Keith A.; Fort, Jérôme; Nielsen, Torkel Gissel; Møller, Per; Wieland, Kai; Born, Erik W.; Rigét, Frank; Mosbech, Anders

doi:10.1007/s00227-016-3001-0

Cited by 40 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…To obtain a better understanding of the isotopic composition of the traditional food items available to the Greenlanders, we have analyzed samples from both terrestrial and marine species traditionally used for food. The results are given in Table and illustrated in Figure , and are generally similar to other data for Arctic marine food webs (Hobson et al, ; Linnebjerg et al, ). We have analyzed both claw and muscle tissue, the latter being the most representative for the Greenland diet, but in some cases only claws were available (guillemot, polar bear).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 87%

“…Estimates of trophic effects between prey (muscle) and predator (nail/claw) in Greenlandic ecosystems can be obtained from the isotopic composition of seal muscle tissue compared to their natural predator polar bear. Polar bear mainly feed on ringed seals (Ramsay & Hobson, ) having average muscle δ 13 C and δ 15 N values of −18.8‰ and 15.4‰, respectively (n = 10, Linnebjerg et al, ). The polar bear claw keratin measured here is thus enriched in 13 C by 2.9‰ and in 15 N by 3.5‰ relative to seal meat.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen as markers of dietary variation among sociocultural subgroups of Inuit in Greenland

Bjerregaard

Larsen

Dahl-Petersen

et al. 2017

American J Hum Biol

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Nail samples for analysis of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen were convenient to collect during a large population health survey among the Inuit. Isotope enrichment levels showed statistically significant associations with other biomarkers for consumption of marine food and with results of an FFQ and were used to estimate the percentage of marine food in the diet. Isotope levels were significantly associated with a novel score of sociocultural transition.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen as markers of dietary variation among sociocultural subgroups of Inuit in Greenland

Bjerregaard

Larsen

Dahl-Petersen

et al. 2017

American J Hum Biol

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“…The δ 34 S of organic sulphur in living organisms incorporated by assimilatory processes is generally depleted by 0–5‰ relative to ocean water (Sharp, ), suggesting a basal value for marine organisms of 16‰. Marine fish along the West Greenland coast have an estimated mean trophic position of 4.5 (Linnebjerg et al ., ), meaning that organic sulphur passed along the food chain would be expected to have fractionated 4.5 times relative to basal organisms. Using the mean fractionation value for fish (0.775‰) computed from data reported in McCutchan et al .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Prey δ 15 N and δ 13 C values were corrected for trophic enrichment (Δ) using, respectively, mean fractionation factors of 3.8 (Linnebjerg et al ., ) and 0.7 (Søreide et al ., ), and are presented as post‐fractionation equivalents (plotted prey δ values = prey isotope values + Δ) when compared or plotted with Arctic charr stable isotope values (Jensen et al ., ). The SIBER package Stable Isotope Bayesian Ellipses in R (version 2.0.3, Jackson & Parnell, ) was used to estimate isotopic niche widths.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Marine trophic niche use and life history diversity among Arctic charrSalvelinus alpinusin southwestern Greenland

Davidsen

Power

Knudsen

et al. 2020

Journal of Fish Biology

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Life history strategies and potential marine niche use of Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus (n = 237, 84–652 mm, total body length, LT) were determined during the ice‐free season (2012) at three different watercourses in south‐western Greenland. All Arctic charr were collected from freshwater habitats. Based on stable isotopes of δ34S, the Arctic charr were categorized as either marine‐ or freshwater‐dependent feeders. The use of time‐integrated trophic tracers (stable isotopes of δ13C, δ15N, δ34S) suggested that several trophic groups of Arctic charr operate alongside within each fjord system. The groups suggested were one group that specialized in the marine habitat, in addition to two freshwater resident morphs (small‐sized resident and/or large‐growing cannibalistic individuals). Stomach contents consisted entirely of freshwater and terrestrial prey (i.e., insects), indicating that marine‐dependent feeders also fed in freshwater habitats after return from their marine migration. Growth and maturity patterns further supported variable life history strategies within each watercourse. The life history strategy patterns and marine trophic niche use were consistent across the watercourses along several hundred kilometres of coastline. This study represents the first ecological baseline for partially anadromous populations of Greenland Arctic charr.

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“…A preference for capelin and boreoatlantic armhook squid over other prey items would be energetically beneficial for Atlantic salmon, as these prey items are the most energy dense and their use would be in keeping with optimal foraging theory (Lawson et al, 1998). Nevertheless, the d 15 N values of Atlantic salmon are comparatively low compared to other marine piscivorous fish found along the West Greenland coast (Linnebjerg et al, 2016), suggesting that Atlantic salmon also rely on lower trophic level prey.…”

Section: Feeding Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the diet of North American Atlantic salmon (Salmo salarL.) off the West Greenland coast using gut content and stable isotope analyses

Dixon

Dempson

Sheehan

et al. 2017

Fisheries Oceanography

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Investigations on the marine feeding of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in the Northwest Atlantic are limited compared with the Northeast Atlantic. Climate‐induced changes to food webs in Atlantic salmon feeding areas have been noted, alongside increased mortality despite a cessation of most marine fisheries. As forage efficiency may be hampering survival, it was important to address this knowledge gap. Atlantic salmon were sampled at three sites on the West Greenland coast (Sisimiut, Nuuk and Qaqortoq) between 2009 and 2011. Gut content and stable isotope analyses were combined to assess spatial and temporal differences in feeding. Capelin (Mallotus villosus) dominated the diet at Nuuk and Qaqortoq, whereas boreoatlantic armhook squid (Gonatus fabricii) was the dominant prey at Sisimiut. Hyperiid amphipods (Themisto spp.) and sand lance (Ammodytes spp.) were also important. Significant differences were found among sites for both gut contents and stable isotope analyses, with fewer differences evident temporally. Dietary differences were also evident across larger scales, with little overlap demonstrated with Northeast Atlantic diets and the emergence of boreoatlantic armhook squid as an important prey item over time. Atlantic salmon diets are frequently anchored on one or two prey items, on which they appear to specialize, but they will diversify to consume other available pelagic prey. Thus, Atlantic salmon are an opportunistic, generalist predator within the pelagic food web. The variability evident in diet suggests that the limited data available are insufficient to appropriately understand potential vulnerabilities that the species may have to ecosystem changes, and suggest further research is needed.

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Deciphering the structure of the West Greenland marine food web using stable isotopes (δ13C, δ15N)

Cited by 40 publications

References 82 publications

Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen as markers of dietary variation among sociocultural subgroups of Inuit in Greenland

Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen as markers of dietary variation among sociocultural subgroups of Inuit in Greenland

Marine trophic niche use and life history diversity among Arctic charrSalvelinus alpinusin southwestern Greenland

Assessing the diet of North American Atlantic salmon (Salmo salarL.) off the West Greenland coast using gut content and stable isotope analyses

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