Isotopic variation complicates analysis of trophic relations within the fish community of Plußsee : a small, deep, stratifying lake

Harrod, Christopher and Grey, Jonathan (2006) Isotopic variation complicates analysis of trophic relations within the fish community of Plußsee : a small, deep, stratifying lake. Archiv für Hydrobiologie, 167 (1-4). pp. 281-299. ISSN 0003-9136

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Analysis of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes has allowed freshwater ecologists to examine lake food webs in increasing detail. Many such studies have highlighted the existence of separate within-lake pelagic and benthic-littoral food webs but are typically conducted on large (> 10 km2) lakes, whereas the majority of lakes are actually relatively small. We used stable isotope analysis (δ13C & δ15N) to examine trophic interactions between fish and their prey in Plußsee, as an example of a small, stratifying lake, and to determine whether separate pelagic/benthic-littoral food webs could be distinguished in such systems. Our results indicate that the Plußsee food web was complicated, and due to extensive intra-annual isotopic variation in zooplankton (e.g.cladoceran δ13C annual range = 25.6‰), it may be impossible to definitively assign consumers from small, eutrophic stratified lakes to pelagic or benthic-littoral food webs. We present evidence that some components of the Plußsee food web (large bream) may be subsidised by carbon of methanogenic origin.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Archiv für Hydrobiologie
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1104
Subjects:
?? aquatic science ??
ID Code:
74809
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
30 Jul 2015 14:20
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jul 2024 15:19