Using the δ<sup>13</sup>C and δ<sup>15</sup>N of whitefish scales for retrospective ecological studies: changes in isotope signatures during the restoration of Lake Geneva, 1980–2001

Perga, Marie‐Elodie; Gerdeau×, Daniel

doi:10.1046/j.1095-8649.2003.00239.x

Cited by 80 publications

(158 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Because tissues in Wsh turn over relatively slowly compared to the retention of diet items in the gut, stable isotopic signatures of Wsh tissues can provide an integrated picture of the feeding ecology of organisms that would be laborious to construct using traditional point-in-time sampling of diets. Recent evidence has also shown strong correlations between stable isotopic signatures of Wsh muscle with that of Wsh scales and Wn clips (Perga and Gerdeaux 2003;Kelly et al 2006).…”

mentioning

confidence: 94%

Resource switching in fish following a major food web disruption

2009

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Dreissenid mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and D. bugensis) have re-engineered Great Lakes ecosystems since their introduction in the late 1980s. Dreissenids can have major indirect impacts on profundal habitats by redirecting nutrients and energy away from pelagic production (which supplies profundal production) and depositing nutrients and energy in the nearshore zones that they occupy. However, strong empirical evidence for the effects of this redirection of resources on fish populations is currently lacking. Here, we report significant shifts in isotopic signatures, depth distribution and diets of a coldwater profundal fish population that are all consistent with a greater reliance on nearshore resources after the establishment of dreissenid mussels in South Bay, Lake Huron. Isotopic signatures of scales collected from 5-year-old lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) demonstrated remarkable stability over the 50-year period prior to the establishment of dreissenids (1947-1997) and a sudden and significant change in isotopic signatures (3 per thousand enrichment in delta13C and 1 per thousand depletion in delta(15)N) after their establishment (2001-2005). These dramatic shifts in isotopic signatures were accompanied by a coincident shift in the mean depth of capture of lake whitefish towards the nearshore. A comparison of previously unpublished pre-invasion diets of lake whitefish from South Bay with contemporary diets collected between 2002 and 2005 also indicate a greater reliance on nearshore prey after the invasion of dreissenid mussels. This study is the first to report changes in the carbon source available to lake whitefish associated with restructured benthic communities after the appearance of dreissenid mussels. Further, this study contributes to a growing body of work that demonstrates the ecological insights that can be gained through isotopic analysis of archived fish bony tissues in ecosystems that have experienced significant levels of disturbance.

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confidence: 94%

Resource switching in fish following a major food web disruption

2009

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“…Non-destructive sampling is facilitated where tissue such as scales can be sampled, making stable isotope analysis an ideal investigative tool for aquatic ecosystems with small fish populations of conservational or recreational value (Perga and Gerdeaux 2003;Grey et al 2009). We used the baseline-corrected estimates of trophic height (sensu Cohen et al 2003) to compare the trophic position of chub between sites with and without invasive crayfish and mixing models to determine relative contributions from food sources.…”

Section: Stable Isotope Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive crayfish impacts on native fish diet and growth vary with fish life stage

et al. 2016

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Assessing the impacts of invasive organisms is a major challenge in ecology. Some widespread invasive species such as crayfish are potential competitors and reciprocal predators of ecologically and recreationally important native fish species. Here, we examine the effects of signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) on the growth, diet, and trophic position of the chub (Squalius cephalus) in four rivers in Britain. Growth rates of 0? chub were typically lower in sympatric populations with signal crayfish compared with allopatric populations, and this effect could be traced through to 2? chub in one river. However, growth rates of older chub (5? to 6?) were typically higher in the presence of crayfish. Sympatry with crayfish resulted in lower chub length-at-age and mass-at-age in half of the rivers sampled, with no change detected in the other rivers. Stable isotope analyses (d 13 C and d 15 N) revealed that both chub and crayfish were omnivorous, feeding at multiple trophic levels and occupying similar trophic positions. We found some evidence that chub trophic position was greater at invaded sites on one river, with no difference detected on a second river. Mixing models suggested crayfish were important food items for both small and large chub at invaded sites. This study provides evidence that invasive species can have both positive and negative effects on different life stages of a native species, with the net impact likely to depend on responses at the population level.

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“…However, many of studies suggest that small isotopic shifts can be associated with large ecosystem disturbances over long periods of time. For example, Perga and Gerdeaux (2003) found the changes in the d 13 C of whitefish determined from a scale collection were only within 3% although the data extended over the recovering period from eutrophic to oligotrophic state of Lake Geneva. Meanwhile, although interpreting isotope values from the same study with the same treatment method is reasonable, the effects of different sample preservation methods prior to analysis may preclude the comparison of results from investigations differing in time and space (Barrow et al 2008;Syvaranta et al 2008;Ventura and Jeppesen 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using SIA, the change in trophic level and the pathway of energy flow were reported, suggesting significant ecological disruptions in food webs (e.g., Perga and Gerdeaux 2003;Schmidt et al 2009;Solomon et al 2008;Vander Zanden et al 1999). However, many of studies suggest that small isotopic shifts can be associated with large ecosystem disturbances over long periods of time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preservation effects on stable isotope ratios and consequences for the reconstruction of energetic pathways

Yang

Zhang

et al. 2011

Aquat Ecol

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Stable isotope analysis provides a powerful tool for describing the energetic pathways in a variety of ecosystems. However, isotope ratios of animal tissues can be altered by preservation methods, potentially leading to biased estimates of energy pathways when they are not taken into account. Here, we investigated the direct preservation effects of formalin, ethanol, NaCl, and drying on the d 13 C and d 15 N of fish muscle tissues, as well as the ultimate effects on the reconstruction of the energy pathways. All preservation methods, except drying, had significant impacts on d 13 C and d 15 N values. The effects of preservation appear to be highly taxa-specific and no significant time-dependent variations in nearly 2-year duration of preservation. d 13 C and d 15 N values were generally changed dramatically within the early stage of the preservation process and became stable over a relatively long-term preservation. Using an isotopic balance mixing model, the isotope-based food web reconstruction reveals that, without preservation correction, the importance of the pelagic energetic pathways for the fishes could be misestimated, except for the drying preservation. These results highlight that preservation can bias the interpretation of food web reconstruction results.

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Using the δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N of whitefish scales for retrospective ecological studies: changes in isotope signatures during the restoration of Lake Geneva, 1980–2001

Cited by 80 publications

References 40 publications

Resource switching in fish following a major food web disruption

Resource switching in fish following a major food web disruption

Invasive crayfish impacts on native fish diet and growth vary with fish life stage

Preservation effects on stable isotope ratios and consequences for the reconstruction of energetic pathways

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Using the δ13C and δ15N of whitefish scales for retrospective ecological studies: changes in isotope signatures during the restoration of Lake Geneva, 1980–2001

Cited by 80 publications

References 40 publications

Resource switching in fish following a major food web disruption

Resource switching in fish following a major food web disruption

Invasive crayfish impacts on native fish diet and growth vary with fish life stage

Preservation effects on stable isotope ratios and consequences for the reconstruction of energetic pathways

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Using the δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N of whitefish scales for retrospective ecological studies: changes in isotope signatures during the restoration of Lake Geneva, 1980–2001