Ontogenetic niche changes in haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus reflected by stable isotope signatures, δ13C and δ15N

Abstract

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 451:175-185 (2012) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09604 Ontogenetic niche changes in haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus reflected by stable isotope signatures, δ13C and δ15N Silje Ramsvatn*, Torstein Pedersen Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Tromsø, 9037 Tromsø, Norway *Email: silje.ramsvatn@uit.no ABSTRACT: We investigated stable nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) isotope signatures in haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus in Ullsfjord, Norway, and found evidence of an ontogenetic shift as a result of growth but in the absence of other morphological changes. Stable isotope signatures and trophic level (TL) changed significantly from a pelagic signature and a low TL to a more benthic associated signature and higher TL when the fish were ca. 20 cm in length. The stable isotope signatures of haddock were compared with those of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua from the same system, other main demersal fish species in the fjord, and haddock from the adjacent fjord, Sørfjord. Our results indicate that both haddock and cod are opportunistic feeders, feeding on the abundant crustaceans in the fjords. Several of the large demersal fish species in Ullsfjord had very similar stable isotope signatures, which reflected their predation on similar prey types. KEY WORDS: Diet · Demersal fish · Gadoids · Feeding ecology · Trophic level · Young-of-the-year Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Ramsvatn S, Pedersen T (2012) Ontogenetic niche changes in haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus reflected by stable isotope signatures, δ13C and δ15N. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 451:175-185. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09604 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 451. Online publication date: April 11, 2012 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2012 Inter-Research.