Article
Biodiversity Conservation
M. C. Neves, M. Vannuci-Silva, G. Montanini, A. F. Azevedo, J. Lailson-Brito, T. L. Bisi
Summary: Species in sympatry can coexist by niche partitioning, as observed in the Ilha Grande Bay where four cetacean species frequently occur. Niche overlap was high for species with site fidelity, while the rough-toothed dolphin showed high segregation. The bay is a biodiversity hotspot, providing diverse resources for the studied cetacean community.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
T. A. Johnston, A. D. Ehrman, J. J. Montgomery, H. K. Swanson
Summary: Variation among individuals in stable isotope composition is increasingly utilized as an ecological index of trophic niche size, assuming that most of the observed variation comes from differences in diet. The study found that non-dietary variation in delta C-13 and delta N-15 is usually a small component of the total delta C-13 and delta N-15 variation seen in wild lake trout populations, indicating that current isotopic niche metrics primarily capture dietary variation.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Pauline Fey, Yves Letourneur, Silvere Bonnabel
Summary: Ecological (isotopic) niche refers to a surface in a two-dimensional space reflecting stable isotopes in animal tissues. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios provide valuable information about trophic ecology, resource use, and population dynamics. The use of minimum convex polygons is advocated as a relevant tool for assessing isotopic niche size, overlap, and characteristics.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Cristina Andolina, Piero Franzoi, Francesco Cavraro, Andrew L. Jackson, Antonio Mazzola, Salvatrice Vizzini
Summary: This study used carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes to investigate the trophic niche features of the South European toothcarp Aphanius fasciatus in relation to habitat types and fish community. The results showed that A. fasciatus exhibited high trophic adaptability and could allocate resources with co-occurring species based on seasonal changes in resource availability.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Jamerson Aguiar-Santos, Pieter A. P. DeHart, Bruce R. Forsberg, Carlos E. C. Freitas
Summary: This study examines the downstream effects of damming on the isotopic niche of peacock bass in the Uatuma River. The results show that the damming increased the niche width and altered the carbon energy sources of peacock bass, despite their higher trophic position.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Ana Beatriz Navarro, Marcelo Magioli, Juliano Andre Bogoni, Marcelo Zacharias Moreira, Luis Fabio Silveira, Eduardo Roberto Alexandrino, Daniela Tomasio Apolinario da Luz, Marco Aurelio Pizo, Wesley Rodrigues Silva, Vanessa Cristina de Oliveira, Reginaldo Jose Donatelli, Alexander Christianini, Augusto Joao Piratelli, Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi Barros Ferraz
Summary: Research found that in human-modified landscapes, the ecological niches of frugivores, insectivores, nectarivores, and omnivores were narrower, while granivores had wider niches. Birds in human-modified landscapes consumed more resources from agricultural areas, but most guilds showed a preference for forest resources in both landscape types, except granivores.
Article
Ecology
Anne Lize, Nils Teichert, Jean-Marc Roussel, Anthony Acou, Eric Feunteun, Alexandre Carpentier
Summary: This study examines the ecological niche of six diadromous fish species obstructed by two river dams and reveals their habitat preferences and carbon sources using stable isotope analysis. The results indicate that different fish species utilize different resources in different habitats, and some species have larger niche overlaps.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Latifa Pelage, Flavia Lucena-Fredou, Leandro Nole Eduardo, Francois Le Loc'h, Arnaud Bertrand, Alex Souza Lira, Thierry Fredou
Summary: Competition plays a crucial role in shaping the spatial and temporal patterns of species. In this study, we investigated the trophic competition between demersal fishes in Northeast Brazil and found that the complexity of substrates had a significant impact on their competitive interactions. The use of Stable Isotope Analysis and social network analysis provided new insights into the competition dynamics and potential ecological responses of these fishes in the face of habitat degradation and climate change.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Tania Ponce, Luis A. Cubillos, Javier Ciancio, Leonardo R. Castro, Miguel Araya
Summary: The research in central-southern Chile found that crustaceans and demersal fish caught with bottom trawling clustered into three groups based on stable isotope values. Different species showed varying degrees of specialization within their own groups, with overlap in isotopic niches between populations. This suggests a complex interaction among benthic and demersal species sharing resources in the habitat, likely supported by a productive pelagic system.
JOURNAL OF SEA RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lydia Kallberg Normark, Camilla Lienart, Deena Pillay, Andrius Garbaras, Candida Savage, Agnes M. L. Karlson
Summary: The study found that environmental stress may impact population trophic niches and diet habits, but no evidence of physiological weakness in sandprawns was observed in highly disturbed sites.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joanna Grabowska, Ali Serhan Tarkan, Dagmara Blonska, Nildeniz Top Karakus, Bartosz Janic, Miroslaw Przybylski
Summary: The study found pronounced differences in reproductive traits between different populations of the western tubenose goby at varying stages of invasion, with new populations displaying higher reproductive investment and older populations showing greater competitiveness. The plasticity in life-history traits of the goby in newly invaded areas favors the production of large numbers of offspring in the initial stages of invasion and at the edge of the expanding range.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Devin L. Johnson, Michael T. Henderson, David L. Anderson, Travis L. Booms, Cory T. Williams
Summary: Intra- and inter-specific resource partitioning is a fundamental component of trophic ecology, and individual niche variation is one mechanism for achieving this partitioning. The Niche Variation Hypothesis predicts that inter-individual trait variation leads to functional trade-offs in foraging efficiency, resulting in populations composed of individual dietary specialists. Our study on an Arctic raptor guild found a high degree of niche overlap between three species, with gyrfalcons displaying a positive relationship between individual specialization and population niche width.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Giorgio Mancinelli, Thanos Dailianis, Costas Dounas, Panagiotis Kasapidis, Panayota Koulouri, Grigorios Skouradakis, Roberta Bardelli, Cristina Di Muri, Maria Teresa Guerra, Salvatrice Vizzini
Summary: This study investigated the trophic position and isotopic niche of the blue swimming crab using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes analysis. The results showed that the crab had a higher trophic position in the Mediterranean Sea compared to other areas. There was high inter-individual variability in the isotopic values, and no significant difference in the isotopic niche between male and female specimens was found. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between specimen size and δ15N values, suggesting an ontogenetic dietary shift.
Article
Ecology
Vanessa De Santis, Catherine Gutmann Roberts, J. Robert Britton
Summary: Determining the impacts of intra- and inter-specific competition in freshwater ecosystems is crucial for understanding ecological changes. This study showed that increased intra-specific competition led to slower growth rates in fish, while inter-specific competition resulted in smaller trophic niche sizes. The results indicate that different types of competition can have varying effects on fish development and feeding habits.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xiulin Ye, Qing Wu, Xinrui Li, Xumao Zhao
Summary: This study incorporated interspecific competition into species distribution models (SDMs) to assess the response of two species endemic to China, the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey and Tibetan macaque, to climate change. It was found that there is niche competition between the two species, with the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey being less competitive in terms of food sourcing and reproductive capacity. Both species are predicted to lose more than 70% of their suitable habitat by 2050, with a decrease in the altitude of suitable habitat.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Selin Erturk Gurkan, Burcu Mestav, Sukran Yalcin Ozdilek
Summary: This study investigated the relationships between morphological parameters, body condition data, and digestive and stress enzyme activities in European eel collected from different locations in Turkey. The results showed differences in morphological and physiological parameters between yellow and silver stage samples, as well as significant differences in digestive and stress enzyme activities.
ICHTHYOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Fisheries
John Robert Britton
Summary: Introductions of non-native freshwater fish are increasing globally, but only a small proportion result in invasions. These invasive populations can have ecological impacts through various processes, some of which are harmful enough to be considered contributors to ecosystem collapse.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
J. Robert Britton, Abigail J. Lynch, Helge Bardal, Stephanie J. Bradbeer, Julie A. Coetzee, Neil E. Coughlan, Tatenda Dalu, Elena Tricarico, Belinda Gallardo, Mark Lintermans, Frances Lucy, Chunlong Liu, Julian D. Olden, Rajeev Raghavan, Eleri G. Pritchard
Summary: The Emergency Recovery Plan for freshwater biodiversity recognizes that addressing nonnative species is one of the key actions to prevent loss of freshwater biodiversity. The plan emphasizes the importance of preventing introductions of nonnative species, but also highlights the need for early detection and rapid reaction measures in case of introduction. Control and containment measures are recommended for invasive species, along with invasion risk assessment and species-specific eradication methods.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Paul Castagne, Ivan Paz-Vinas, Stephanie Bouletreau, Jessica Ferriol, Geraldine Loot, Charlotte Veyssiere, Robert Arlinghaus, Robert Britton, Marlene Chiarello, Emili Garcia-Berthou, Pavel Horky, Delphine Nicolas, Annamaria Nocita, Oscar Nordahl, Michaël Ovidio, Filipe Ribeiro, Ondrej Slavik, Chloe Vagnon, Simon Blanchet, Frederic Santoul
Summary: Biological invasions are a significant component of global change, but they can also have negative impacts on native populations. Efficient management policies are needed to prevent the spread of invasive species in non-native areas while protecting native populations. Genetic variation analysis can help assess the genetic state, identify invasion pathways, determine management strategies, and identify populations requiring conservation measures.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Miguel Baltazar-Soares, J. Robert Britton, Adrian Pinder, Andrew J. Harrison, Andrew D. Nunn, Bernardo R. Quintella, Catarina S. Mateus, Jonathan D. Bolland, Jamie R. Dodd, Pedro R. Almeida, Victoria Dominguez Almela, Demetra Andreou
Summary: This study provided the first genome-wide characterization of genetic diversity in the European range of sea lamprey. It revealed a single metapopulation that includes freshwater spawning sites within the North Eastern Atlantic and the North Sea, with some limitations to dispersal at northern latitudes. The study also found that oxygen concentration and river runoffs impose spatially varying selection pressures across their distribution range in the ocean.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Mark I. A. Yeldham, J. Robert Britton, Charles Crundwell, Peter Davies, Jamie R. Dodd, Andrew D. Nunn, Randolph Velterop, Jonathan D. Bolland
Summary: The timing of entry into freshwater by mature anadromous fishes is determined by migration cues, particularly photoperiod, and shows high individual repeatability. This study used passive acoustic telemetry to track 71 twaite shad returning to the River Severn's upper estuary over multiple spawning seasons, and found that the timing of river entry was consistent between years and strongly predicted by increasing day length. Water temperatures and flow rates, however, were weak predictors and highly variable between years. The results highlight the importance of understanding migration cues and their variability in assessing the migration phenology of anadromous species.
Article
Oceanography
Sukran Yalcin Ozdilek, Bektas Sonmez, Burcu Mestav
Summary: This study evaluated the foraging ecology of green turtles in the Mediterranean using stable isotope signatures and body size. It found that the green turtles nesting in the Eastern Mediterranean have two distinct foraging habitats, with larger females belonging to a generalist/specialist feeding strategy. Further studies are needed to identify the foraging areas of green turtles in the Mediterranean for effective conservation actions.
OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Irmak Kurtul, Ali Serhan Tarkan, J. Robert Britton
Summary: Non-lethal sampling methods can be used for trophic studies on inshore flatfish populations of high value. Fin tissue and epidermal mucus can serve as alternatives to muscle for stable isotope analysis. Differences in isotopic values can be predicted and converted using linear regression. These tissue alternatives allow for non-lethal sampling and analysis of flatfish populations.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Bertram I. C. Warren, Adrian C. Pinder, Ben Parker, A. Serhan Tarkan, J. Robert Britton
Summary: This study assessed the trophic ecology of a translocated chub population using stable isotope metrics and compared it with native chub populations. The results suggest that the colonization of lowland rivers by translocated chub is facilitated by their isotopic relationships with other fishes similar to those observed in their native range.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ismael Soto, Phillip J. Haubrock, Ross N. Cuthbert, David Renault, Anna F. Probert, Ali Serhan Tarkan
Summary: Given the limited economic resources available, prioritizing invasive species for management is crucial. Although global invasive species risk scoring systems exist, the incorporation of fully quantitative impact metrics is currently lacking. However, the emergence of monetary costs as a standardized measure of invasive species impact provides an opportunity for comparing species in risk assessments.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Irmak Kurtul, Ali Serhan Tarkan, J. Robert Britton
Summary: Studies show that scale and fin tissue can be used as non-lethal alternatives for stable isotope analysis in European perch and pumpkinseed populations. Conversion equations are provided to standardize the values of scale and fin tissue to dorsal muscle values for comparative studies.
KNOWLEDGE AND MANAGEMENT OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Ugur Karakus, Ali Serhan Tarkan, Sukran Yalcin-Ozdilek, Nildeniz Top-Karakus, Nurbanu Partal, John Robert Britton
Summary: This study examined the trophic interactions between the invasive fish pumpkinseed and the endemic stream fish Aegean chub in a Mediterranean-type water course in Turkey. The results showed that although the presence of pumpkinseed increased the trophic niche size of chub, the two species showed some convergence in their niches when cohabiting, with minimal ecological consequences for their growth or body condition.
KNOWLEDGE AND MANAGEMENT OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
J. Robert Britton, Abigail J. Lynch, Helge Bardal, Stephanie J. Bradbeer, Julie A. Coetzee, Neil E. Coughlan, Tatenda Dalu, Elena Tricarico, Belinda Gallardo, Mark Lintermans, Frances Lucy, Chunlong Liu, Julian D. Olden, Rajeev Raghavan, Eleri G. Pritchard
Summary: The Emergency Recovery Plan for freshwater biodiversity emphasizes the importance of addressing nonnative species as one of the primary actions to protect freshwater biodiversity. Prevention of introductions is the most effective management measure, while early detection and rapid reaction can prevent establishment and dispersal. If a species becomes invasive, control and containment measures can minimize its spread and impact.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS
(2023)