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Maitland BM, Bootsma HA, Bronte CR, Bunnell DB, Feiner ZS, Fenske KH, Fetzer WW, Foley CJ, Gerig BS, Happel A, Höök TO, Keppeler FW, Kornis MS, Lepak RF, McNaught AS, Roth BM, Turschak BA, Hoffman JC, Jensen OP. Testing food web theory in a large lake: The role of body size in habitat coupling in Lake Michigan. Ecology 2024; 105:e4413. [PMID: 39234980 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
The landscape theory of food web architecture (LTFWA) describes relationships among body size, trophic position, mobility, and energy channels that serve to couple heterogenous habitats, which in turn promotes long-term system stability. However, empirical tests of the LTFWA are rare and support differs among terrestrial, freshwater, and marine systems. Further, it is unclear whether the theory applies in highly altered ecosystems dominated by introduced species such as the Laurentian Great Lakes. Here, we provide an empirical test of the LTFWA by relating body size, trophic position, and the coupling of different energy channels using stable isotope data from species throughout the Lake Michigan food web. We found that body size was positively related to trophic position, but for a given trophic position, organisms predominately supported by pelagic energy had smaller body sizes than organisms predominately supported by nearshore benthic energy. We also found a hump-shaped trophic relationship in the food web where there is a gradual increase in the coupling of pelagic and nearshore energy channels with larger body sizes as well as higher trophic positions. This highlights the important role of body size and connectivity among habitats in structuring food webs. However, important deviations from expectations are suggestive of how species introductions and other anthropogenic impacts can affect food web structure in large lakes. First, native top predators appear to be flexible couplers that may provide food web resilience, whereas introduced top predators may confer less stability when they specialize on a single energy pathway. Second, some smaller bodied prey fish and invertebrates, in addition to mobile predators, coupled energy from pelagic and nearshore energy channels, which suggests that some prey species may also be important integrators of energy pathways in the system. We conclude that patterns predicted by the LTFWA are present in the face of species introductions and other anthropogenic stressors to a degree, but time-series evaluations are needed to fully understand the mechanisms that promote stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan M Maitland
- Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Aquatic Science Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Rocky Mountain Research Station, U.S. Forest Service, Boise, Idaho, USA
| | - Harvey A Bootsma
- School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Charles R Bronte
- Green Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, US Fish and Wildlife Service, New Franken, Wisconsin, USA
| | - David B Bunnell
- Great Lakes Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Zachary S Feiner
- Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Office of Applied Science, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Kari H Fenske
- Bureau of Fisheries Management, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - William W Fetzer
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
| | - Carolyn J Foley
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Brandon S Gerig
- School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Austin Happel
- Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Tomas O Höök
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Matthew S Kornis
- Green Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, US Fish and Wildlife Service, New Franken, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Ryan F Lepak
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - A Scott McNaught
- Department of Biology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, USA
| | - Brian M Roth
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Benjamin A Turschak
- Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Charlevoix, Michigan, USA
| | - Joel C Hoffman
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Olaf P Jensen
- Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Höök TO, Kalejs NI, Axenrot T, Ogonowski M, Sandström A. Stable isotope and fatty acid variation of a planktivorous fish among and within large lakes. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304089. [PMID: 39037992 PMCID: PMC11262694 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Aquatic food webs are spatially complex, potentially contributing to intraspecific variability in production pathway reliance of intermediate trophic level consumers. Variation in trophic reliance may be described by well-established trophic indicators, like stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ15N), along with emerging trophic indicators, such as fatty acid composition. We evaluated stable isotope ratios and fatty acid profiles of European smelt (Osmerus eperlanus) among and within distinct regions of three large Swedish lakes (Hjälmaren, Mälaren, Vättern) which differed in trophic status. We expected that smelts in more oligotrophic lakes and regions would be characterized by distinct stable isotope signatures and fatty acid profiles, with particularly high polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) relative levels. However, we acknowledge that frequent movement of smelts among regions may serve to spatially integrate their diet and lead to limited within-lake variation in stable isotope ratios and fatty acid composition. As expected, in comparison with more productive lakes (i.e., Hjälmaren and Mälaren), smelts from ultra-oligotrophic Vättern were characterized by low δ15N, high δ13C and high percent of a dominant PUFA, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Smelts from different regions of the morphometrically complex Mälaren displayed differential stable isotope ratios and fatty acid relative concentrations, which were consistent with within-lake differences in productivity and water residence times, suggesting that smelts in this lake forage locally within distinct regions. Finally, at the individual smelt level there were particularly strong and consistent associations between a well-established trophic indicator (δ13C) and percent DHA, suggesting that the relative concentration of this fatty acid may be a useful additional trophic indicator for smelt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas O. Höök
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America
- Illinois-Indiana College Sea Grant Program, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Freshwater Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Drottningholm, Sweden
| | - Nicholas I. Kalejs
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America
- Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Augusta, ME, United States of America
| | - Thomas Axenrot
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Freshwater Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Drottningholm, Sweden
| | - Martin Ogonowski
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Freshwater Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Drottningholm, Sweden
| | - Alfred Sandström
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Freshwater Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Drottningholm, Sweden
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Miranda DA, Zachritz AM, Whitehead HD, Cressman SR, Peaslee GF, Lamberti GA. Occurrence and biomagnification of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Lake Michigan fishes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 895:164903. [PMID: 37355115 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
We measured perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in prey and predator fish from Lake Michigan (USA) to investigate the occurrence and biomagnification of these compounds in this important ecosystem. Twenty-one PFAS were analyzed in 117 prey fish obtained from sites across Lake Michigan and in 87 salmonids collected in four lake quadrants. The mean concentration of sum (∑) PFAS above the method detection limit was 12.7 ± 6.96 ng g-1 wet weight in predator fish (all of which were salmonids) and 10.7 ± 10.4 ng g-1 in prey fish, with outlier levels found in slimy sculpin, Cottus cognatus (187 ± 12.2 ng g-1 ww). Perfluorooctanoic sulfonic acid (PFOS) was the most frequently detected and most abundant compound of the 21 PFAS, occurring in 98 % of individuals with a mean concentration of 9.86 ± 6.36 ng g-1 ww without outliers. Perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCA) concentrations were higher in prey fish than in predators, with some compounds such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) being detected in higher frequency in prey fish. Besides PFOS, detection of several long-chain (C8-C12) PFCAs were observed in >80 % of the prey fish. Overall, the observed concentrations in Lake Michigan fish were lower than those reported in other Laurentian Great Lakes except for Lake Superior. Biomagnification factors (BMFs) for PFOS exceeded 1.0 (range, 1.80 to 5.12) in all predator-prey relationships analyzed, indicating biomagnification of these compounds, whereas BMFs of other long-chain PFCAs varied according to the fish species. PFAS were found in all fish species measured from Lake Michigan and commonly biomagnified from prey to predator fish, strongly suggesting a dietary connection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele A Miranda
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States; Environmental Change initiative, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States.
| | - Alison M Zachritz
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States
| | - Heather D Whitehead
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States
| | - Shannon R Cressman
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Green Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, New Franken, WI 54229, United States
| | - Graham F Peaslee
- Environmental Change initiative, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States
| | - Gary A Lamberti
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States; Environmental Change initiative, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States
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Mofu L, Dalu T, Wasserman RJ, Woodford DJ, Weyl OLF. Trophic ecology of co-occurring fishes in the Sundays River Valley irrigation ponds, assessed using stable isotope and gut content analyses. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2023; 102:1191-1205. [PMID: 36856200 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The analysis of food web structures has increased the understanding of the dynamics of organisms belonging to different trophic levels. In this study, the diet of two native species, Glossogobius callidus and Gilchristella aestuaria, was assessed in the presence of two non-native species, Oreochromis mossambicus and Gambusia affinis, in irrigation ponds, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The proportion of dietary items consumed and assimilated by the four fish species were inferred from gut contents and carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis. Stable isotope analysis revealed that both G. affinis and O. mossambicus had a larger isotopic niche size than G. callidus and G. aestuaria. Although G. callidus fed on benthic resources and G. aestuaria fed on phytoplankton, gut content analysis showed that G. callidus, O. mossambicus and G. affinis fed predominantly on benthic resources, whereas G. aestuaria fed mainly on plankton resources. Considerable niche overlap corroborates the view that resource competition is a major factor shaping the composition of the four fish species. This study highlighted the low diversity of the food web within the Sundays River Valley irrigation ponds, where food items are shared by all the small-bodied fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lubabalo Mofu
- Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
- DSI/NRF Research Chair in Inland Fisheries and Freshwater Ecology, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Makhanda, South Africa
- Centre for Invasion Biology, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Makhanda, South Africa
| | - Tatenda Dalu
- School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Nelspruit, South Africa
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Makhanda, South Africa
| | - Ryan J Wasserman
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Makhanda, South Africa
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
| | - Darragh J Woodford
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Makhanda, South Africa
- Centre for Invasion Biology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Olaf L F Weyl
- Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
- DSI/NRF Research Chair in Inland Fisheries and Freshwater Ecology, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Makhanda, South Africa
- Centre for Invasion Biology, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Makhanda, South Africa
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Somogyi D, Erős T, Mozsár A, Czeglédi I, Szeles J, Tóth R, Zulkipli N, Antal L, Nyeste K. Intraguild predation as a potential explanation for the population decline of the threatened native fish, the European mudminnow (Umbra krameri Walbaum, 1792) by the invasive Amur sleeper (Perccottus glenii Dybowski, 1877). NEOBIOTA 2023. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.83.95680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Biotic interactions exerted by invasive species have a strong effect on ecosystems. Intraguild predation may contribute to the decline in the distribution, abundance and population size of native species and may facilitate the spread of non-native taxa. In this study, we investigated the feeding ecology of the invasive fish Amur sleeper (Perccottus glenii Dybowski, 1877) in a lowland watercourse, where it co-exists with the threatened native fish European mudminnow (Umbra krameri Walbaum, 1792). We used two sampling protocols that differed in the frequency of sampling time (e.g. monthly samplings and samplings in 10-day intervals) to provide evidence of predation, an interaction that may lead to the decline of mudminnow populations with the spread of the Amur sleeper. Aquatic macroinvertebrates comprised a major part of the diet for both sampling intervals. However, finer temporal resolution revealed the importance of fish, especially mudminnow juveniles, as a periodically available food source in the Amur sleeper’s diet. A high degree of dietary overlap was found between the different size groups of the Amur sleeper, but larger specimens tended to feed on a relatively higher proportion of fish. Our results suggested that temporal resolution of stomach content analyses may largely determine inferences on the importance of predation on juvenile mudminnow. Overall, we found that intraguild predation could contribute to the decline of European mudminnow populations, which underscores the importance of effective control measures to prevent the further spread of the invasive Amur sleeper.
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Invasion success of a freshwater fish corresponds to low dissolved oxygen and diminished riparian integrity. Biol Invasions 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-022-02827-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Happel A, Pike J, Czesny S, Rinchard J. An empirical test of fatty acid based diet estimation models. FOOD WEBS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2021.e00197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Dominguez Almela V, South J, Britton JR. Predicting the competitive interactions and trophic niche consequences of a globally invasive fish with threatened native species. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:2651-2662. [PMID: 34309851 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Novel trophic interactions between invasive and native species potentially increase levels of interspecific competition in the receiving environment. However, theory on the trophic impacts of invasive fauna on native competitors is ambiguous, as while increased interspecific competition can result in the species having constricted and diverged trophic niches, the species might instead increase their niche sizes, especially in omnivorous species. The competitive interactions between an omnivorous invasive fish, common carp Cyprinus carpio, and a tropically analogous native and threatened fish, crucian carp Carassius carassius, were tested using comparative functional responses (CFRs). A natural pond experiment then presented the species in allopatry and sympatry, determining the changes in their trophic (isotopic) niche sizes and positions over 4 years. These predictive approaches were complemented by assessing their trophic relationships in wild populations. Comparative functional responses revealed that compared to crucian carp, carp had a significantly higher maximum consumption rate. Coupled with a previous cohabitation growth study, these results predicted that competition between the species is asymmetric, with carp the superior competitor. The pond experiment used stable isotope metrics to quantify shifts in the trophic (isotopic) niche sizes of the fishes. In allopatry, the isotopic niches of the two species were similar sized and diverged. Conversely, in sympatry, carp isotopic niches were always considerably larger than those of crucian carp and were strongly partitioned. Sympatric crucian carp had larger isotopic niches than allopatric conspecifics, a likely response to asymmetric competition from carp. However, carp isotopic niches were also larger in sympatry than allopatry. In the wild populations, the carp isotopic niches were always larger than crucian carp niches, and were highly divergent. The superior competitive abilities of carp predicted in aquaria experiments were considered to be a process involved in sympatric crucian carp having larger isotopic niches than in allopatry. However, as sympatric carp also had larger niches than in allopatry, this suggests other ecological processes were also likely to be involved, such as those relating to fish prey resources. These results highlight the inherent complexity in determining how omnivorous invasive species integrate into food webs and alter their structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Dominguez Almela
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK
| | - Josie South
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - J Robert Britton
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK
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Effect of round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) invasion on blue mussel (Mytilus edulis trossulus) population and winter diet of the long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis). Biol Invasions 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-018-1869-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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10
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Species identity matters when interpreting trophic markers in aquatic food webs. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0204767. [PMID: 30289888 PMCID: PMC6173397 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In aquatic systems, food web linkages are often assessed using diet contents, stable isotope ratios, and, increasingly, fatty acid composition of organisms. Some correlations between different trophic metrics are assumed to be well-supported; for example, particular stable isotope ratios and fatty acids seem to reflect reliance on benthic or pelagic energy pathways. However, understanding whether the assumed correlations between different trophic metrics are coherent and consistent across species represents a key step toward their effective use in food web studies. To assess links among trophic markers, we compared relationships between major diet components, fatty acids, and stable isotope ratios in three fishes: yellow perch (Perca flavescens), round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), and spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius) collected from nearshore Lake Michigan. Yellow perch and spottail shiner are native in this system, while round goby are a relatively recent invader. We found some evidence for agreement between different trophic metrics, especially between diet components, n-3:n-6 fatty acid ratios, and stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N). However, we also observed significant variation in observed relationships among markers and species, potentially due to taxonomic variation in the specific diet items consumed (e.g., chydorid microcrustaceans and Dreissena mussels) and species-specific biochemical processes. In many of these latter cases, the invasive species differed from the native species. Understanding the effects of taxonomic variation on prey and predator signatures could significantly improve the usefulness of fatty acids in food web studies, whereas diet contents and stable isotopes appear to be reliable indicators of trophic niche in aquatic food webs.
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