Temporal variation in the niche partitioning of Lake Michigan salmonines as it relates to alewife abundance and size structure

Benjamin Turschak, Charles R. Bronte, Sergiusz Czesny, Brandon Gerig, Austin Happel, Tomas O. Höök, Matthew S. Kornis, Benjamin S. Leonhardt, Bryan G. Matthias, Jacques Rinchard, Harvey Bootsma

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Stable isotope analyses offer a useful means for quantifying ecological niche dimensions, though few studies have examined isotopic response of an ecological community with respect to resource gradients such as fluctuations in prey availability. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes were measured for Lake Michigan salmonines and their prey collected from 2014 to 2016. Bayesian ellipse and mixing model analyses were used to quantify isotopic niche characteristics and diets, respectively, among species and years. During the 3-year study period, abundance and size structure of preferred alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) prey changed substantially and offered an opportunity to explore predator isotopic niche response and diet shifts along a prey resource gradient. Results suggested increased reliance on alewives, especially small alewives, over the study period and were consistent with greater availability of this prey. However, differential use of alewife size classes and alternative prey sources by salmonine predators was apparent, which suggested possible resource partitioning. Characterization of ecological niche overlap using stable isotopes likely requires consideration of shared resource availability as well as specific prey and habitat preferences.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)487-502
Number of pages16
JournalCanadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
Volume79
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Aquatic Science

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