Seasonal Change in Trophic Niche of Adfluvial Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) and Coexisting Fishes in a High-Elevation Lake System.
Introduction of non-native species is a leading threat to global aquatic biodiversity. Competition between native and non-native species is often influenced by changes in suitable habitat or food availability. We investigated diet breadth and degree of trophic niche overlap for a fish assemblage of...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:7d91bbfe95f349b89d5bc5f13263da11 2023-05-15T14:31:18+02:00 Seasonal Change in Trophic Niche of Adfluvial Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) and Coexisting Fishes in a High-Elevation Lake System. Kyle A Cutting Wyatt F Cross Michelle L Anderson Elizabeth G Reese 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0156187 https://doaj.org/article/7d91bbfe95f349b89d5bc5f13263da11 EN eng Public Library of Science (PLoS) http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4874605?pdf=render https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203 1932-6203 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0156187 https://doaj.org/article/7d91bbfe95f349b89d5bc5f13263da11 PLoS ONE, Vol 11, Iss 5, p e0156187 (2016) Medicine R Science Q article 2016 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0156187 2022-12-31T04:49:51Z Introduction of non-native species is a leading threat to global aquatic biodiversity. Competition between native and non-native species is often influenced by changes in suitable habitat or food availability. We investigated diet breadth and degree of trophic niche overlap for a fish assemblage of native and non-native species inhabiting a shallow, high elevation lake system. This assemblage includes one of the last remaining post-glacial endemic populations of adfluvial Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) in the contiguous United States. We examined gut contents and stable isotope values of fish taxa in fall and spring to assess both short- (days) and long-term (few months) changes in trophic niches. We incorporate these short-term (gut contents) data into a secondary isotope analysis using a Bayesian statistical framework to estimate long-term trophic niche. Our data suggest that in this system, Arctic grayling share both a short- and long-term common food base with non-native trout of cutthroat x rainbow hybrid species (Oncorhynchus clarkia bouvieri x Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). In addition, trophic niche overlap among Arctic grayling, hybrid trout, and brook trout appeared to be stronger during spring than fall. In contrast, the native species of Arctic grayling, burbot (Lota lota), and suckers (Catostomus spp.) largely consumed different prey items. Our results suggest strong seasonal differences in trophic niche overlap among Arctic grayling and non-native trout, with a potential for greatest competition for food during spring. We suggest that conservation of endemic Arctic grayling in high-elevation lakes will require recognition of the potential for coexisting non-native taxa to impede well-intentioned recovery efforts. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic grayling Arctic Burbot Lota lota Thymallus arcticus lota Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic PLOS ONE 11 5 e0156187 |
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English |
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Medicine R Science Q |
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Medicine R Science Q Kyle A Cutting Wyatt F Cross Michelle L Anderson Elizabeth G Reese Seasonal Change in Trophic Niche of Adfluvial Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) and Coexisting Fishes in a High-Elevation Lake System. |
topic_facet |
Medicine R Science Q |
description |
Introduction of non-native species is a leading threat to global aquatic biodiversity. Competition between native and non-native species is often influenced by changes in suitable habitat or food availability. We investigated diet breadth and degree of trophic niche overlap for a fish assemblage of native and non-native species inhabiting a shallow, high elevation lake system. This assemblage includes one of the last remaining post-glacial endemic populations of adfluvial Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) in the contiguous United States. We examined gut contents and stable isotope values of fish taxa in fall and spring to assess both short- (days) and long-term (few months) changes in trophic niches. We incorporate these short-term (gut contents) data into a secondary isotope analysis using a Bayesian statistical framework to estimate long-term trophic niche. Our data suggest that in this system, Arctic grayling share both a short- and long-term common food base with non-native trout of cutthroat x rainbow hybrid species (Oncorhynchus clarkia bouvieri x Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). In addition, trophic niche overlap among Arctic grayling, hybrid trout, and brook trout appeared to be stronger during spring than fall. In contrast, the native species of Arctic grayling, burbot (Lota lota), and suckers (Catostomus spp.) largely consumed different prey items. Our results suggest strong seasonal differences in trophic niche overlap among Arctic grayling and non-native trout, with a potential for greatest competition for food during spring. We suggest that conservation of endemic Arctic grayling in high-elevation lakes will require recognition of the potential for coexisting non-native taxa to impede well-intentioned recovery efforts. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Kyle A Cutting Wyatt F Cross Michelle L Anderson Elizabeth G Reese |
author_facet |
Kyle A Cutting Wyatt F Cross Michelle L Anderson Elizabeth G Reese |
author_sort |
Kyle A Cutting |
title |
Seasonal Change in Trophic Niche of Adfluvial Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) and Coexisting Fishes in a High-Elevation Lake System. |
title_short |
Seasonal Change in Trophic Niche of Adfluvial Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) and Coexisting Fishes in a High-Elevation Lake System. |
title_full |
Seasonal Change in Trophic Niche of Adfluvial Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) and Coexisting Fishes in a High-Elevation Lake System. |
title_fullStr |
Seasonal Change in Trophic Niche of Adfluvial Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) and Coexisting Fishes in a High-Elevation Lake System. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Seasonal Change in Trophic Niche of Adfluvial Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) and Coexisting Fishes in a High-Elevation Lake System. |
title_sort |
seasonal change in trophic niche of adfluvial arctic grayling (thymallus arcticus) and coexisting fishes in a high-elevation lake system. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0156187 https://doaj.org/article/7d91bbfe95f349b89d5bc5f13263da11 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic grayling Arctic Burbot Lota lota Thymallus arcticus lota |
genre_facet |
Arctic grayling Arctic Burbot Lota lota Thymallus arcticus lota |
op_source |
PLoS ONE, Vol 11, Iss 5, p e0156187 (2016) |
op_relation |
http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4874605?pdf=render https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203 1932-6203 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0156187 https://doaj.org/article/7d91bbfe95f349b89d5bc5f13263da11 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0156187 |
container_title |
PLOS ONE |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
e0156187 |
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1766304964787830784 |