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Food web position of burbot relative to lake trout, northern pike, and lake whitefish in four sub‐Arctic boreal lakes
Author(s) -
Cott P. A.,
Johnston T. A.,
Gunn J. M.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of applied ichthyology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.392
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1439-0426
pISSN - 0175-8659
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0426.2011.01843.x
Subject(s) - coregonus clupeaformis , salvelinus , pike , esox , trout , trophic level , fishery , boreal , food web , biology , coregonus , arctic , piscivore , profundal zone , ecology , predation , fish <actinopterygii> , benthic zone , predator
Summary We assessed the food web position of burbot Lota lota relative to co‐occurring large‐bodied fishes in four northern (62°40′N, 114°10′W) boreal shield lakes of similar size (305–547 ha) using a stable isotope approach. Trophic position (inferred from δ 15 N) was positively correlated to body mass in burbot, lake trout Salvelinus namaycush , and northern pike Esox lucius , but negatively correlated to body mass in lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis . Carbon source (inferred from δ 13 C) was positively correlated to body mass in lake whitefish, but not related to body mass in any of the other three species. In all lakes, burbot had δ 15 N and δ 13 C signatures very similar to those of lake trout. Both burbot and lake trout were more δ 15 N‐enriched than northern pike (P < 0.001). Lake trout had lower δ 13 C than northern pike and lake whitefish (P = 0.0023) but not burbot. Our results confirm that burbot occupy a position near the top of the food chain in boreal lakes and may play an important role in structuring the limnetic fish community.