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Stable isotope evidence for the food web consequences of species invasions in lakes

Author

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  • M. Jake Vander Zanden

    (McGill University
    One Shields Avenue, University of California-Davis)

  • John M. Casselman

    (Science Development Transfer Branch, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Glenora Fisheries Station, RR4)

  • Joseph B. Rasmussen

    (McGill University)

Abstract

Species invasions pose a serious threat to biodiversity and native ecosystems1,2; however, predicting and quantifying the impacts of invasive species has proven problematic3,4,5,6. Here we use stable isotope ratios to document the food-web consequences of the invasion of two non-native predators, smallmouth bass and rock bass, into Canadian lakes. Invaded lakes had lower littoral prey-fish diversity and abundance than uninvaded reference lakes. Consistent with this difference, lake trout from invaded lakes had more negative δ13C values (-29.2‰ versus -27.4‰) and reduced trophic positions (3.3 versus 3.9) than those from reference lakes, indicating differences in food-web structure. Furthermore, a comparison of the pre- and post-invasion food webs of two recently invaded lakes showed that invasion was followed by substantial declines in littoral prey-fish abundance and the trophic position of lake trout, reflecting a shift in the diet of lake trout towards zooplankton and reduced dependence on littoral fish. This study demonstrates the use of stable isotope techniques to detect changes in food-web structure following perturbations; in this instance, bass-induced food-web shifts may have severe consequences for native species and ecosystems.

Suggested Citation

  • M. Jake Vander Zanden & John M. Casselman & Joseph B. Rasmussen, 1999. "Stable isotope evidence for the food web consequences of species invasions in lakes," Nature, Nature, vol. 401(6752), pages 464-467, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:401:y:1999:i:6752:d:10.1038_46762
    DOI: 10.1038/46762
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    Cited by:

    1. Marc J. S. Hensel & Brian R. Silliman & Johan Koppel & Enie Hensel & Sean J. Sharp & Sinead M. Crotty & Jarrett E. K. Byrnes, 2021. "A large invasive consumer reduces coastal ecosystem resilience by disabling positive species interactions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Ka Ngai & Brian Shuter & Donald Jackson & Sudeep Chandra, 2013. "Projecting impacts of climate change on surface water temperatures of a large subalpine lake: Lake Tahoe, USA," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 118(3), pages 841-855, June.
    3. Feroz Khan, M. & Panikkar, Preetha, 2009. "Assessment of impacts of invasive fishes on the food web structure and ecosystem properties of a tropical reservoir in India," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(18), pages 2281-2290.
    4. Juan Tao & Rongxiao Che & Dekui He & Yunzhi Yan & Xiaoyun Sui & Yifeng Chen, 2015. "Trends and potential cautions in food web research from a bibliometric analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 105(1), pages 435-447, October.
    5. Hou, Gege & Bai, Lei & Si, Shubin, 2023. "Ecosystem resilience and stability analysis against alien species invasion patterns," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 619(C).
    6. Villanueva, Maria Concepcion S. & Isumbisho, Mwapu & Kaningini, Boniface & Moreau, Jacques & Micha, Jean-Claude, 2008. "Modeling trophic interactions in Lake Kivu: What roles do exotics play?," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 212(3), pages 422-438.
    7. Giorgio Mancinelli & Thanos Dailianis & Costas Dounas & Panagiotis Kasapidis & Panayota Koulouri & Grigorios Skouradakis & Roberta Bardelli & Cristina Di Muri & Maria Teresa Guerra & Salvatrice Vizzin, 2022. "Isotopic Niche and Trophic Position of the Invasive Portunid Portunus segnis Forskål, (1775) in Elounda Bay (Crete Island, Eastern Mediterranean)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-17, November.

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