Ontogenetic Trophic Interactions and Benthopelagic Coupling in Lake Washington: Evidence from Stable Isotopes and Diet Analysis

McIntyre, Jenifer K.; Beauchamp, David A.; Mazur, Michael M.; Overman, Nathanael C.

doi:10.1577/t05-099.1

Cited by 48 publications

(42 citation statements)

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“…This implies that studies in lakes with high availability of this habitat have probably underestimated the reported abundances of this species and their importance in associated processes, such as their role in the food web and nutrient recirculation. Habitat coupling is an ecosystemic process of great importance in terms of energy, nutrient transport, and recycling between habitats, affecting predator-prey interactions and the structure and stability of food webs (Schindler and Scheuerell, 2002;McIntryre et al, 2006). We can speculate that in Andean Patagonian lakes Galaxiid recirculation of nutrients through excretion (Reissig et al, 2003), mediated by daily and ontogenetic migration between habitats (Rechencq et al, 2011), as well as their high abundance and role as prey (Vigliano et al, 2009;Juncos et al, 2013), conform a habitat coupling process that could be critical considering the oligotrophic nature of the lakes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish distribution patterns and habitat availability in lakes Moreno Este and Moreno Oeste, Patagonia, Argentina

et al. 2014

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a b s t r a c tAndean Patagonian lakes are ultraoligotrophic and deep, have simple food webs and low fish diversity and abundance. In this work the distributional abundance data of fish was studied in two interconnected Andean Patagonian lakes with varying proportions of contrasting habitat types. Hydroacoustic data (120 kHz) were used to analyze fish abundance and habitat use during the mixis and stratification periods. Three types of habitat (near shore, surface pelagic and deep pelagic) and two groups of fish, based on size (Big Fish >12 cm total length and Fish Larvae and Small Fish <12 cm total length) were defined. The distribution of both fish groups in these lakes revealed differences in habitat use for each lake and period. Fish group abundance was related to the availability of habitat types, according to the morphology of each lake. The Big Fish group showed preference for the near shore habitat during lake stratification and always appeared as individual targets. The Fish Larvae and Small Fish group used mainly the pelagic habitat during mixis, where they formed dense sound scattering layers. However, during lake stratification many individual targets from this group were found both in pelagic and near shore habitats, which would seem to indicate a change in distributional behavior. This is possibly associated with niche changes in the Galaxiids (Galaxias spp), a key component of Northern Patagonian lake food webs. Lakes like Moreno Oeste, which are morphologically and structurally more complex, could have more diverse fish ensembles with higher abundances. In contrast, lakes of simple morphology with low development of near shore habitats and ample deep zones, like Lake Moreno Este, could present lower Big Fish abundance. The contrasting habitat availability between lakes accounts for the abundances and distribution patterns of each fish group. While in these lakes fish assemblage species composition could depends on the environmental filter, the particular structure of a fish assemblage in terms of the proportional abundances of species depends on proportional habitat type availability. We can speculate that in Andean Patagonian lakes Galaxiids mediate a habitat coupling process critical for the transfer of energy and matter in oligotrophic lakes. We may also consider that the Small Puyen in this type of lake is a keystone prey species that relieves predation pressure on other potential prey. The existence of deep pelagic habitats in numerous deep lakes in the Northern Patagonian Andean region provides not only daytime refuge for Galaxiids, which allows them to maintain their high numbers in the lakes, but could also, in the long term, act as a Galaxiid source for other water bodies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish distribution patterns and habitat availability in lakes Moreno Este and Moreno Oeste, Patagonia, Argentina

et al. 2014

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“…We used stable isotopes to identify the length at which Northern Pikeminnow transition to piscivory, in order to delineate size-classes for calculating diet composition. We examined δ 13 C and δ 15 N for a range of sizes of Northern Pikeminnow and tiger muskellunge and representative samples of different guilds of potential prey (Vander Zanden and Rasmussen 1999;McIntyre et al 2006). Fin tissue from fish and muscle tissue from Asian clams Corbicula fluminea and signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus were placed on ice in the field and then frozen within 12 h for storage (Sanderson et al 2009b).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predation by Northern Pikeminnow and Tiger Muskellunge on Juvenile Salmonids in a High‐Head Reservoir: Implications for Anadromous Fish Reintroductions

et al. 2016

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The feasibility of reintroducing anadromous salmonids into reservoirs above high‐head dams is affected by the suitability of the reservoir habitat for rearing and the interactions of the resident fish with introduced fish. We evaluated the predation risk to anadromous salmonids considered for reintroduction in Merwin Reservoir on the North Fork Lewis River in Washington State for two reservoir use‐scenarios: year‐round rearing and smolt migration. We characterized the role of the primary predators, Northern Pikeminnow Ptychocheilus oregonensis and tiger muskellunge (Northern Pike Esox lucius × Muskellunge E. masquinongy), by using stable isotopes and stomach content analysis, quantified seasonal, per capita predation using bioenergetics modeling, and evaluated the size and age structures of the populations. We then combined these inputs to estimate predation rates of size‐structured population units. Northern Pikeminnow of FL ≥ 300 mm were highly cannibalistic and exhibited modest, seasonal, per capita predation on salmonids, but they were disproportionately much less abundant than smaller, less piscivorous, conspecifics. The annual predation on kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka (in biomass) by a size‐structured unit of 1,000 Northern Pikeminnow having a FL ≥ 300 mm was analogous to 16,000–40,000 age‐0 spring Chinook Salmon O. tshawytscha rearing year‐round, or 400–1,000 age‐1 smolts migrating April–June. The per capita consumption of salmonids by Northern Pikeminnow having a FL ≥ 200 mm was relatively low, due in large part to spatial segregation during the summer and the skewed size distribution of the predator population. Tiger muskellunge fed heavily on Northern Pikeminnow, other nonsalmonids, and minimally on salmonids. In addition to cannibalism within the Northern Pikeminnow population, predation by tiger muskellunge likely contributed to the low recruitment of larger (more piscivorous) Northern Pikeminnow, thereby decreasing the risk of predation to salmonids. This study highlights the importance of evaluating trophic interactions within reservoirs slated for reintroduction with anadromous salmonids, as they can be functional migration corridors and may offer profitable juvenile‐rearing habitats despite hosting abundant predator populations.Received September 3, 2015; accepted December 7, 2015 Published online April 19, 2016

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“…Firstly, ontogenetic niche shifts by generalist fish species can promote the coupling of littoral and pelagic habitats and food-web compartments in lakes (e.g. McIntyre et al 2006). Secondly, the population size structure can modify the nature and strength of competitive and predatory interactions between fish species and between individuals within the species (Woodward et al 2005, Miller & Rudolf 2011.…”

Section: Seasonal and Ontogenetic Diet Shiftsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal and ontogenetic shifts in the diet of Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus in a subarctic lake

Eloranta

Kahilainen

Jones

2010

Journal of Fish Biology

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Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus (L.)) is a cold-adapted salmonid fish with a wide circumpolar distribution. Due to its wide fundamental trophic niche (i.e. diet and habitat use), Arctic charr can be used to study energy flow as well as competitive and predator-prey interactions in subarctic lakes. The objective of this thesis was to evaluate how the trophic niche of Arctic charr in subarctic lakes is influenced by various biotic (e.g. intra-and interspecific resource competition and predation) and abiotic (e.g. seasonality and lake morphometry) factors. Stomach contents and stable isotope analyses indicated marked between-lake and between-individual differences in Arctic charr diet and habitat use. In Saanajärvi, Arctic charr relied mainly on littoral production regardless of season or individual size, probably due to high primary production and lack of sympatric fish species in the littoral zone. In contrast, Arctic charr showed a reduced littoral reliance when the littoral trophic niche was dominated by brown trout, and an increased prevalence of piscivorous foraging when coexisting with planktivorous whitefish and benthivorous grayling. The final results from a total of 17 subarctic lakes indicated that Arctic charr shifted from littoral to a more pelagic trophic niche with increasing lake area and fish species richness. The shift of Arctic charr to a more pelagic piscivorous niche in large lakes was evidently promoted by the existence of small, planktivorous prey fish species and increased interspecific resource competition and/or predation in the littoral zone. The results demonstrate that littoral and pelagic food-web compartments in subarctic lakes can be integrated by generalist Arctic charr, but the energy flow pathways supporting this top consumer can be strongly influenced by prevailing intra-and interspecific interactions as well as by the morphometric characteristics of the lakes. The findings highlight that a comprehensive view of food-web structures is fundamental for predicting the likely responses of fish communities and subarctic lake ecosystems to potential environmental changes. Keywords: Energy flow; individual specialization; lake morphometry; littoral production; resource competition; stable isotope analysis; trophic niche. LIST OF ORIGINAL PUBLICATIONSThe thesis is based on the following original articles, which will be referred to in the text by their Roman numerals I-IV. I did most of the planning for each study and contributed to field work in I, III and IV, and to laboratory analyses in all the studies. I was responsible for the data analysis and wrote the first draft of all the papers. All co-authors made a significant contribution to planning and preparation of the final papers. IV Eloranta A.P., Kahilainen K.K., Amundsen P.-A., Knudsen R., Harrod C. & Jones R.I. 2013. Lake size and fish species richness determine resource use by top consumers in subarctic lakes. Manuscript. INTRODUCTION Food webs in lakesLakes are complex ecosystems, whose functioning is tightly connecte...

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Ontogenetic Trophic Interactions and Benthopelagic Coupling in Lake Washington: Evidence from Stable Isotopes and Diet Analysis

Cited by 48 publications

References 58 publications

Fish distribution patterns and habitat availability in lakes Moreno Este and Moreno Oeste, Patagonia, Argentina

Fish distribution patterns and habitat availability in lakes Moreno Este and Moreno Oeste, Patagonia, Argentina

Predation by Northern Pikeminnow and Tiger Muskellunge on Juvenile Salmonids in a High‐Head Reservoir: Implications for Anadromous Fish Reintroductions

Seasonal and ontogenetic shifts in the diet of Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus in a subarctic lake

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