Using stable isotope analysis with telemetry or mark-recapture data to identify fish movement and foraging

Information about animal movements has often been inferred from stable isotope analysis (SIA), but is dependent on animals assimilating site-specific isotopic signatures via diet. This potential weakness in ecological interpretation can be overcome by using other investigative tools that provide pre...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oecologia 2005-08, Vol.144 (4), p.636-646
Main Authors: Cunjak, R.A, Roussel, J.M, Gray, M.A, Dietrich, J.P, Cartwright, D.F, Munkittrick, K.R, Jardine, T.D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Behavior, Animal
Canada
carbon
Carbon Isotopes - metabolism
Cottus
Cottus cognatus
Demography
Downstream
Ecology, environment
Ecosystem
Fishes - physiology
foraging
Fresh Water
Freshwater fishes
High temperature
injectable transponders
Isotopes
Lakes
Life history
Life Sciences
Marine fishes
migration behavior
Nitrogen Isotopes - metabolism
Oceans and Seas
passive integrated transponders
Ponds
Refugia
Rivers
Salmo salar
Salmon
Salmon smolt
Sculpin
Seasons
Signatures
Site fidelity
Stable isotopes
Streams
Tagging
Telemetry
Tributaries
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Summary:Information about animal movements has often been inferred from stable isotope analysis (SIA), but is dependent on animals assimilating site-specific isotopic signatures via diet. This potential weakness in ecological interpretation can be overcome by using other investigative tools that provide precise information about individual movement patterns. In this paper, we demonstrate the value of combining SIA with telemetry or mark-recapture data from trapping, electrofishing and remote detection of individuals to study the movement and feeding ecology of fishes in different habitats. In a fjord lake system in Newfoundland, Canada, juvenile Atlantic salmon delayed downstream migration (smolts) or actively moved into a large lake (parr) where they foraged for periods reflecting different life history strategies. In the Miramichi River (New Brunswick, Canada), SIA provided evidence of distinct foraging habitats (tributary versus large river). By tracking fish implanted with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags, we distinguished between movements related to foraging versus seeking cool water refugia during high temperature events. Finally, site fidelity and limited mobility of slimy sculpin, a small benthic fish, was established where δ¹³C in muscle tissue showed a progressive enrichment downstream and where a median displacement of
ISSN:0029-8549
1432-1939
DOI:10.1007/s00442-005-0101-9