Minnow Research Articles

Helminths in fish from lake and river systems of the Upper Kolyma Highlands that have medical and veterinary significance

The purpose of the research is to extend information across the distribution of zooanthroponotic helminth infections transmitted through freshwater fish in the Magadan Region.Materials and methods. The study area is located in the Upper Kolyma basin on the Magadan Region and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) border. The Omulevsky Park is also located here, one of the clusters of the Chersky National Park named after A. V. Andreev. The existing lake and river systems (Darpir, Momontai, Malyk, Urultun and Ui) are inhabited by 7 fish species: Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus), east-Siberian grayling (Thymallus arcticus pallasi), round fish (Prosopium cylindraceum), Siberian sucker (Catostomus catostomus rostratus), burbot (Lota lota leptura), common minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) and sculpin from the Kolyma (Cottus kolymensis). 685 specimens of fish were undergone parasitological survey using established procedures. The found helminths were fixed in 70% ethanol and clarified in glycerol.Results and discussion. In the study of the fish helminth fauna in the lake and river systems of the Upper Kolyma Highlands, three helminth species that posed a danger to humans and animals were identified, Dibothriocephalus dendriticus, D. ditremus (Diphyllobothriidae) and Eustrongylides excisus (Dioctophymatidae). Information was provided on fish infection with these parasites in the lake and river systems, and their distribution in the Magadan Region, and a brief description of these types of helminths was given. In domestic scientific and methodological publications, the problem of eustrongylidiasis as a zooanthroponotic disease is not sufficiently covered, therefore, emphasis is placed on nematodes of the genus Eustrongylides. The research results may attract the attention of sanitary and veterinary service specialists to this issue, especially given the creation of a national park in the Magadan Region. Data on the freshwater fish infection with Diphyllobothriidae in the Upper Kolyma Lake and river systems expand the diphyllobothriasis nosoarea in the Magadan Region and allows the Susumansky District to be included in its boundaries.

Diversity of the ichthyofauna in small rivers of the northern macro-slope of Saur-Tarbagatai (Central Asia)

Studying the fish composition of small rivers and streams allows us to understand the diversity of species, their ecology, and the interrelationships in the ecosystem. Monitoring of these species can help in assessing the state of aquatic ecosystems and identifying potential problems. This paper shows the results of fish diversity studies of in 12 rivers flowing on the northern slope of the Saur-Tarbagatai Mountains. The study of fish diversity of 12 rivers in 2023 showed the presence of 10 species, representing native and alien ichthyofauna of Kazakhstan. The highest fish diversity was found in the Saryeshki river and the Kendirlik river. Only one fish species is represented in the rivers Zhinishkesu and Sarybulak. The dominant species in numbers are Siberian gudgeon, stone loach, European minnow, Chinese false gudgeon and naked osman. Aboriginal species spined loach is the least represented in all water bodies encountered, and as of 2023 it can be classified as a rare native fish.

The influence of flow velocity on the response of rheophilic fish to visual cues.

The strong association with visual cues exhibited by fish that prefer to inhabit flowing water (rheophilic species) may help reduce the energetic costs of maintaining position due to the provision of spatial points of reference. If this "Station Holding Hypothesis" is true, a positive relationship between the association with visual cues and flow velocity is expected. This hypothesis was tested experimentally by quantifying the response of common minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) to visual cues under three flow velocities. In contradiction to the prediction, there was no evidence that the association with strong visual cues was positively related to flow velocity when fish were presented with vertical black stripes in an open channel flume, although interspecific variation in response was observed. The association with visual cues was relatively weak in trout, compared to minnow that spent 660% more time associated with the zone in which visual cues were present during the treatment, than the control when visual cues were absent. Trout tended to be more exploratory and made short visits to the area where visual cues were present, whereas minnow associated with the cues for longer. The strong association with visual cues independent of flow velocity exhibited by minnow and the weak association across all velocities by trout suggest that this behaviour is unlikely to reflect a strategy to minimise the energetic cost of maintaining position in flowing water. Minnow may have used the visual cues as a proxy indicator of physical structure that provides alternative benefits, such as refuge from predators. Trout may have employed alternative cues (e.g. mechanosensory) to seek more energetically favourable regions of the experimental area, reducing the importance of stationary visual stimuli.

Novel data support validity of Phoxinus chrysoprasius (Pallas, 1814) (Actinopterygii, Leuciscidae)

The common minnow species Cyprinus chrysoprasius, previously synonymised to Phoxinus phoxinus, was originally described from the Crimean Peninsula (Black Sea – Sea of Azov basin). A genetic analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxydase 1 in the context of a phylogenetic study of European Phoxinus showed that it represents a distinct genetic clade and potentially a valid species. In the present study, we approach the issue following a broader, both genetic and morphological, study in order to check and support the validity of native Crimean Phoxinus under the earliest available name of the species: P. chrysoprasius. Our data demonstrate a reliable genetic distance of this minnow from geographically neighbouring clades and species, and a certain morphological distinctiveness. In order to determine the taxonomic concept of P. chrysoprasius, as a species involved in a genetically well-differentiated, but phenotypically poorly structured complex of east-European Phoxinus, a neotype for the species, based on topotypical material, is herein described and designated. The original type locality of the species is also clarified.

Climate and intraspecific variation in a consumer species drive ecosystem multifunctionality

Climate change is altering the multifunctionality of ecosystems worldwide and is often associated with changes in biodiversity that can modulate the impacts of climate change on ecosystems through interactive effects. Genetic and phenotypic variation within species are particularly influenced by climatic conditions, and can mediate several ecosystem processes. Here, we tested whether temperature can interact with intraspecific variation to drive ecosystem multifunctionality. Using a common gardening experiment, we test the consequences of intraspecific variation (population identity and trait variation) of a consumer fish species (European minnow Phoxinus phoxinus) and temperature on ecosystem multifunctionality, as well as on the biomass of a subsequent fish generation (long‐term effects). We found that individuals from different populations affect ecosystem multifunctionality independently of temperature, and that multifunctionality differed between cold and warm mesocosms. Moreover, when investigating sub‐components of multifunctionality, we found a positive relationship between individual metabolic rate and multifunctional primary production in warm mesocosms, whereas this relationship was reversed in cold mesocosms. We similarly found evidence that the long‐term effect of intraspecific trait variation on the biomass of the next fish generation was temperature‐dependent. These findings demonstrate that differences among populations can have strong consequences on ecosystem multifunctionality, and that intraspecific variation must be considered in addition to other components of global change to predict the impacts of global change on ecosystem multifunctionality.

The Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Eurasian Minnow (Phoxinus cf. Phoxinus) from the Heilongjiang River, and Its Phylogenetic Implications.

Over the past two decades, the genus Phoxinus has undergone extensive taxonomic revision and many new species or mitochondrial lineages have been found in Europe. However, Asian populations of Phoxinus spp. have received less attention and have rarely been compared with their European relatives. In this study, we deciphered the 16,789-nucleotide mitochondrial genome of Phoxinus cf. phoxinus from the Heilongjiang River (HLJ) and compared it with other known mitogenomes or partial mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences of Phoxinus spp. We discovered that all known mitochondrial genomes of Phoxinus had a typical mtDNA architecture across vertebrates, but their D-loop regions varied greatly in length. A repetitive motif of ~130 bp was identified in the D-loop regions of Phoxinus spp. The unusual repetitive structure was revealed at the beginning of D-loop regions of all known mitogenomes of Phoxinus spp. The length differences of the D-loop region were attributed mainly to the number of repetitive motifs and the inserted sequences among them. However, this repetitive structure was absent in the other Far East phoxinins. This is further evidence for the notion that Far Eastern phoxinins should be divided into two genera: Phoxinus and Rhynchocypris. All mtDNA sequences (including three mitogenomes) from South Korea represent the same genetic lineage, as there were only slight differences among them. The remaining six mtDNA sequences are highly divergent and represent different lineages of the genus, as supported by partial mtDNA sequences. The updated phylogeny of genus Phoxinus suggests that there are five distinct mtDNA lineages in Asia. The Asian lineages have diverged markedly from their European relatives and should not be included with the European minnow (P. phoxinus).

Habitat preferences of small fish species in rivers at the eastern edge of Europe

Abstract We studied the probability of occurrence, distribution and abundance of eight small fish species in 512 small rivers at the eastern edge of Europe in a region of high geographical and environmental heterogeneity. Stone loach, common minnow, and gudgeon were recorded in more than 50% of the study sites. Common minnow was the most abundant species, contributing 66% of all captures. Elevation, depth, and width of the river were the main environmental factors influencing the distribution of more than half of the studied fish species. Our research in the eastern edge of Europe shows that fish preferences in terms of probability of occurrence, abundance, and niche breadth for environmental factors can vary greatly, even among closely related species. depth.

Mitochondrial DNA suggests uniqueness of an isolated population of the Italian minnow (Phoxinus lumaireul Schinz, 1840) (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) in central Apennines (Italy)

Two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome oxidase I and cytochrome b) were examined to compare an isolated population of the Italian minnow in the central Apennines to other populations in the species’ range (Po plain) and other European minnow species. Both mitochondrial markers showed a new haplotype, fixed in a sample of 30 specimens, never observed in the main species distribution range, and ostensibly divergent from other Italian minnow haplotypes. The result suggests a long history of isolation, probably preceding the Holocene retreat northwards of the Po River. This relict population is now at serious extinction risk owing to habitat loss and predation by alien trout restocked into the wild for recreational fishing purposes.

Threats at home? Assessing the potential ecological impacts and risks of commonly traded pet fishes

Invasive alien species (IAS) are major drivers of global biodiversity loss, and the poorly regulated international pet trade is a source of emerging and future invaders. Predictions of the likely ecological impacts and risks of such IAS have been significantly enhanced in recent years with new metrics, which require application to many more actual and potential IAS. Hence, this study assesses the potential ecological impacts and risks of two readily available pet trade species: goldfish, Carassius auratus, a species with non-native populations worldwide; and white cloud mountain minnow, Tanichthys albonubes, a species with a limited invasion history to date. First, we compared the per capita feeding rates of these non-native species with two European trophically analogous natives – the stone loach, Barbatula barbatula, and the common minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus – using the Comparative Functional Response method. Second, we used foraging experiments in conspecific pairs to determine synergistic, neutral or antagonistic intraspecific interactions. Third, we performed novel object experiments using the two pet trade species to assess boldness, a known “dispersal enhancing trait”. Goldfish had the highest maximum feeding rates of the four species, while white cloud mountain minnows had the lowest. Neutral interactions were observed for all four species in the paired foraging experiments, with goldfish having the highest consumption and white cloud mountain minnows having the lowest. Goldfish demonstrated greater boldness, being more active during the experimental trials and more likely to approach a novel object than white cloud mountain minnows. Further, combining maximum feeding rates, boldness and species availabilities from our survey of pet shops, we assessed the relative invasion risks (RIR) of the two non-natives. This highlighted goldfish as the higher risk and most worthy of management prioritisation, mirroring its more extensive invasion history. We propose that such metrics have potential to direct future IAS policy decisions and management towards the ever-increasing rates of biological invasions worldwide.

Lethal Infection of Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica) with Diplostomum Baeri, Transmitted by Feeding Infected European Minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus)

Lethal Infection of Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica) with Diplostomum Baeri, Transmitted by Feeding Infected European Minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus)

Fatal Diplostomum phoxini infection in captive Atlantic puffin Fratercula arctica chicks following ingestion of infected European minnows Phoxinus phoxinus

Conservation of endangered animal species is a major task of zoos. Husbandry and breeding of Atlantic puffins Fratercula arctica in captivity is challenging. In 2019, the entire chick population (n = 4 chicks) in Berne Animal Park's Atlantic puffin colony (Bern, Switzerland) died within 7 d. Due to supply constraints, the chicks had been fed with wild-caught European minnows Phoxinus phoxinus. At necropsy, the main pathological finding in all deceased puffin chicks was a multifocal, moderate to severe subacute heterophilic and granulomatous enteritis with intralesional adult trematodes and eggs. Metacercariae surrounded by few necrotic cells and scattered macrophages were found in the brain and spinal cord of the food fish. Additional microbiological analyses of both the puffin chicks and fish were unremarkable. Diplostomum phoxini DNA could be identified in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue from the small intestine of all puffin chicks and European minnows following PCR and sequencing of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) region. This report illustrates the importance of intensive health checks of food fish for animal species kept in captivity.

Паразиты рыб горных озер бассейна Верхней Колымы. 1. Озера большой и малый Дарпир.

The first data on the parasite fauna of fish from the mountain lakes Bolshoy and Maly Darpir at the southern spurs of the Chersky Ridge (Momsky District, Yakutia) are presented. 7 species of fish have been studied, in which 34 species of parasites have been found: 33 species of helminths and 1 species of parasitic copepods, belonging to 22 genera, 16 families, 12 orders, 7 classes of 4 types of the animal kingdom. Trematodes completely dominate by the number of species among helminths (16 species); cestodes are half as many (8 species); these are followed by nematodes and spiny-headed worms (5 and 4 species, respectively). The greatest variety of parasites was found in the East Siberian grayling (22 species) and the Arctic char (19 species). Next to the latter in terms of the number of parasite species, there went the Kolyma sculpin (13 species), round whitefish (10 species each), sucker (9 species), eelpout, and common minnow (7 species each). Only one parasite species, the Neoechinorhynchus salmonis Ching, 1984 spiny-headed worm, is common for all studied fish. The second species of spiny-headed worms, Pseudoechinorhynchus borealis (Linstow, 1901), not found only in the round whitefish, was first recorded in fish of the Okhotsk-Kolyma area and in the sucker as a new definitive host.

Introduced European minnow Phoxinus phoxinus in alpine lakes may increase total mercury concentration in brown trout Salmo trutta

In Norway, the cyprinid European minnow Phoxinus phoxinus has been spread far outside its previous natural distribution area, with lots of establishments in mountain lakes where brown trout Salmo trutta originally was the only fish species. We have analysed δ15N and total mercury (THg) concentration in brown trout from eight lakes, situated between 1031 and 1244 m a.s.l. on the Hardangervidda mountain plateau, southern Norway. One of the lakes is inhabited by brown trout and European minnow, while in the other seven lakes, brown trout is the only fish species. δ15N of brown trout were significantly higher in the population with co-existing European minnow, indicating a higher trophic position of brown trout in this population than in the allopatric populations, probably caused by piscivory, as indicated by frequent occurrence of European minnow in brown trout diet. The mercury concentrations in brown trout from this lake had values up to around 0.4 mg THg per kg wet weight. The concentrations were significantly higher than in the lakes without European minnow, and together with the δ15N values, indicating that translocation and establishment of European minnow may increase the trophic position of brown trout in previously allopatric populations, and thereby also increase the mercury level.

The helminth fauna of brown trout (Salmo trutta) from a sub-alpine lake revisited after 40 years with introduced European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus)

The helminth fauna of brown trout (Salmo trutta) in the Norwegian subalpine lake, Øvre Heimdalsvatn was studied by examination of gills, eyes, body cavity, kidney, stomach, pyloric region and intestine in a total of 112 brown trout randomly sampled in June, July, and September 2011. Ten helminth species, Discocotyle sagittata, Phyllodistomum umblae, Crepidostomum farionis, C. metoecus, Diplostomum sp., Proteocephalus sp., Cyathocephalus truncatus, Dibothriocephalus ditremus, D. dendriticus, and Capillaria sp. were identified. These data were compared to data from the period 1969 to 1972, just after the first record of the European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) in 1969. All ten helminth species, except D. dendriticus, were also present in 1969–72. However, a few major changes in infection intensities have occurred. The cestode D. ditremus and the trematode Diplostomum sp., both with piscivorous birds as final hosts, had markedly higher relative densities (abundance) in brown trout in 2011 compared to 1969–72, while the two Crepidostomum species showed a substantial decline in relative densities. We suggest that these changes may be indirectly related to the establishment and subsequent population increase of European minnow in the lake. The abundance of minnows may have increased the food basis for the piscivorous birds, primarily mergansers and the black-throated diver that now regularly forage in the lake. In addition, there have been changes in the littoral invertebrate community, including species serving as intermediate hosts of some of the brown trout parasites.

Selective effects of small barriers on river‐resident fish

Abstract Habitat fragmentation is a principal threat to biodiversity and artificial river barriers are a leading cause of the global decline in freshwater biota. Although the impact of barriers on diadromous fish is well established, impacts on river‐resident fish communities remain unclear, especially for low‐head barriers. We examined the movement of five contrasting freshwater fish (topmouth gudgeon, European minnow, stone loach, bullhead and brown trout) in an experimental cascade mesocosm with seven pools separated by small vertical barriers. Passage rates differed significantly among species and increased with body size and sustained swimming speed (Usus), ranging from an average of 0.2 passes/hr in topmouth gudgeon to 3.4 passes/hr in brown trout. A random‐walk simulation indicated that barriers can result in net downstream movement and shifts in community composition. Passage rates in brown trout were leptokurtic, that is, most individuals were relatively sedentary while a small proportion showed frequent movements. Upstream passage rates of brown trout increased with body length and boldness while fish with lower aerobic scope tended to move downstream. Passage rates showed significant individual repeatability in brown trout, independent of body size, indicating the potential for in‐stream barriers to exert selective effects on fish populations. Our results show that barrier effects can be more complex than simply blocking fish passage, and that river‐resident fish can be impacted even by very small barriers. We show that fish passage depends on a wide range of morphological, physiological and behavioural drivers, and that barriers can exert selective effects on these traits and cause shifts in community composition. Policy implications. Barrier mitigation measures need to embrace interspecific and intraspecific variation in fish passage to avoid inadvertent artificial selection on fish communities. Given the high abundance of low‐head structures in river systems worldwide, a paradigm shift is needed to recognise the subtle impacts of small barriers on freshwater biodiversity. Removal of small barriers or nature‐like fishways should allow better passage of the wider fish community compared to widely used salmonid‐centric fish passage options.

Collective behaviour of the European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) is influenced by signals of differing acoustic complexity

Collective behaviour, such as shoaling in fish, benefits individuals through a variety of activities such as social information exchange and anti-predator defence. Human driven disturbance (e.g. anthropogenic noise) is known to affect the behaviour and physiology of individual animals, but the disruption of social aggregations of fish remains poorly understood. Anthropogenic noise originates from a variety of activities and differs in acoustic structure, dominant frequencies, and spectral complexity. The response of groups of fish may differ greatly, depending on the type of noise, and how it is perceived (e.g. threatening or attractive). In a controlled laboratory study, high resolution video tracking in combination with fine scale acoustic mapping was used to investigate the response of groups of European minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus) to signals of differing acoustic complexity (sinewave tones vs octave band noise) under low (150 Hz) and high (2200 Hz) frequencies. Fish startled and decreased their mean group swimming speed under all four treatments, with low frequency sinewave tones having the greatest influence on group behaviour. The shoals exhibited spatial avoidance during both low frequency treatments, with more time spent in areas of lower acoustic intensity than expected. This study illustrates how noise can influence the spatial distribution and social dynamics within groups of fish, and owing to the high potential for freshwater aquatic environments to be influenced by anthropogenic activity, wider consequences for populations should be further investigated.

Morphological and trophic divergence of lake and stream minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus).

Phenotypic divergence in response to divergent natural selection between environments is a common phenomenon in species of freshwater fishes. Intraspecific differentiation is often pronounced between individuals inhabiting lakes versus stream habitats. The different hydrodynamic regimes in the contrasting habitats may promote a variation of body shape, but this could be intertwined with morphological adaptations to a specific foraging mode.Herein, I studied the divergence pattern of the European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus), a common freshwater fish that has received little attention despite its large distribution. In many Scandinavian mountain lakes, European minnows are considered as being invasive and were found to pose threats to the native fish populations due to resource competition. Minnows were recently found to show phenotypic adaptations in lake versus stream habitats, but the question remained if this divergence pattern is related to differences in resource use. I therefore studied the patterns of minnow divergence in morphology (i.e., using geometric morphometrics) and trophic niches (i.e., using stomach content analyses) in the lake Ånnsjön and its tributaries to link the changes in body morphology to the feeding on specific resources. Lake minnows showed a strong reliance on benthic Cladocera and a more streamlined body shape with a more upward facing snout, whereas stream minnows fed on macroinvertebrates (larvae and adults) to a higher degree and had a deeper body with a snout that was pointed down. Correlations showed a significant relationship of the proportion of macroinvertebrates in the gut and morphological features present in the stream minnows. The results of this study highlight the habitat‐specific divergence pattern in morphology and resource use in this ubiquitous freshwater fish. Consequently, interspecific interactions of invasive minnows and the native fish population could differ in the respective food webs and resource competition could target different native fish species in the contrasting habitats.

Species Composition, Distribution and Ecological Features of Ichthyofauna in the Pymvashor Geothermal Valley (Bolshezemelskaya Tundra, Nenets Autonomous Okrug)

Ichthyofauna in the studied streams in the Pymvashor Geothermal Valley contains six species from six families; the basis of the fish assemblage is formed by three species such as European grayling Thymallus thymallus, common minnow Phoxinus phoxinus and stone loach Barbatula barbatula. Fish distribution patterns are expressed well in spatial and seasonal aspects. Fish inhabiting water bodies in the Pymvashor Geothermal Valley belong to two faunal complexes with prevalence of species of the boreal piedmont complex; three groups are distinguished in respect to the feeding habits, i.e. benthophagous, predatory, and euryphagous fishes. Species which lay eggs on rocky-pebbly substrates in late spring and early summer prevail. According to the economic status three fish species are non-commercial; common bullhead is listed in the regional Red Data Book of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

Energy stores and mercury concentrations in a common minnow (spottail shiner, Notropis hudsonius) associated with a peaking hydroelectric dam

AbstractPeaking hydroelectric facilities release water from dams to match energy production with demand, often on a daily cycle. These fluctuating flows downstream can exert several potential stressors on organisms that may inhibit their growth, indirectly causing higher contaminant concentrations through reduced growth dilution. We collected spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius) at two sites upstream and two sites downstream of a peaking hydroelectric dam in east‐central Saskatchewan, Canada, and compared their body condition, triglyceride concentrations, and mercury concentrations. Condition decline was observed in one of two downstream sites from August to September, and the lowest triglyceride concentrations were consistently found downstream of the dam where hydropeaking had the most perceptible effects on the shoreline. Mercury concentrations were significantly greater at both downstream sites relative to upstream. Despite these results, inconsistencies in response parameters across sites and time limited our ability to isolate the effects of hydropeaking as a causative agent and suggest indirect effects such as shifts in algal and macroinvertebrate communities may be responsible for our observations. These results suggest that hydroelectric power generation may indirectly increase mercury concentrations in downstream fish, but more research will be required to determine the specific mechanisms by which this occurs. The results and data also provide useful insights into the physiology of wild spottail shiner populations, which can help to inform the development of these fish as a North American sentinel species.

Linking intraspecific variability in trophic and functional niches along an environmental gradient

Abstract Intraspecific trophic variability has important ecological and evolutionary implications, and is driven by multiple interacting factors. Functional traits and environmental conditions are important in mediating the trophic niche of individuals because they determine their ability to consume certain prey, their energetic requirements, and resource availability. In this study, we aimed at investigating the interacting effects of functional traits and environmental conditions on several attributes of trophic niche in natural populations. Here, we quantified intraspecific variability in the trophic niche of 12 riverine populations of European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) using stable isotope analyses. Functional traits (i.e. morpho‐anatomical traits) and environmental conditions (i.e. upstream–downstream gradient, forest cover) were quantified to identify the determinants of (1) trophic position and resource origin, (2) trophic niche size, and (3) trophic differentiation (β‐diversity) among populations. We demonstrated that trophic position and resource origin covaried with functional traits related to body size and locomotion performance, and that the strength and shape of these relationships varied according to local environmental conditions. The trophic niche size also differed among populations, although no determinant was identified. Finally, trophic β‐diversity was correlated to environmental differentiation among sites. Overall, the determinants of intraspecific variability in trophic niche appeared highly context‐dependent, and related to the interactions between functional traits and environmental conditions. Because populations are currently facing important environmental changes, understanding this context‐dependency is important for predicting food web structure and ecosystem dynamics in a changing world.