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Long-term food web change in Lake Superior.
- Source :
-
Canadian Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences . Dec2009, Vol. 66 Issue 12, p2118-2129. 11p. 1 Diagram, 4 Charts, 3 Graphs. - Publication Year :
- 2009
-
Abstract
- Restoration and rehabilitation of native species in the Laurentian Great Lakes is a priority for fisheries management agencies. Restoration efforts are increasingly incorporating a perspective that considers species within a broader food web context. We used stable isotope analysis and museum-preserved specimens to describe and quantify 100 years of food web changes in the Lake Superior fish community. We validated stable isotope analysis of museum specimens by showing a positive correlation between isotope- and diet-based estimates of trophic position. While introductions have created a more trophically diverse food web than historically found in Lake Superior, two separate metrics revealed little community-wide change in the food web. Our species-specific analysis revealed trophic niche differences between shortjaw (Coregonus zenithicus) and shortnose (Coregonus reighardi) ciscoes, two species previously argued to be indistinguishable based on morphological characteristics. By providing a historical context, our findings show the ability of the Lake Superior food web to accommodate non-native species introductions over the last century while still supporting native species populations. This long-term information about food web structure can help guide management and restoration goals in Lake Superior. Furthermore, Lake Superior can serve as a basis for comparing food web changes in other, more highly altered Great Lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0706652X
- Volume :
- 66
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Canadian Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 47376879
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1139/F09-151