Applying stable isotopes of carbon (delta C-13) and nitrogen (delta N-15) to examine the role of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca Linnaeus, 1758) in structuring the food web of Lake Egirdir (Central Anatolia), Turkey

Authors : Meral APAYDİN YAGCİ, Senol AKİN, Ahmet ALP, Abdulkadir YAGCİ, Mehmet CESUR, Rahmi UYSAL, Fuat BİLGİN, Vedat YEGEN

Pages : 408-423

View : 25 | Download : 8

Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The aim of this study was to examine the role of pikeperch insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Sander lucioperca L., 1758); in structuring the seasonal food web of Lake Egirdir using carbon insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(delta C-13); and nitrogen insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(delta N-15); stable isotopes. The samples for stable isotopes were collected during the spring and autumn seasons. Sander lucioperca, as expected, was determined as a top predator with a substantially higher trophic position during both seasons insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(3.96, spring, delta N-15 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(mean +/- SE = 13.09 +/- 0.17); and delta C-13 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(mean +/- SE = -17.23 +/- 0.19); insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(4.10, autumn, delta N-15 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(mean +/- SE = 14.14 +/- 0.19); and delta C-13 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(mean +/- SE = -18.15 +/- 0.02);. Three different models insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(IsoSource, SIAR, and Bugalho et al. insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2008);); were used to determine food sources that most contributed to the food of S. lucioperca. During spring, the fishes and invertebrates, Potamon potomios and Pontastacus leptodactylus, contributed most to the food of S. lucioperca, a result obtained by the 3 models. According to the IsoSource model, among the fishes, these included Vimba vimba, Capoeta pestai, Cyprinus carpio, and S. lucioperca insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(cannibalism);; however, according to Bugalho et al. insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2008); and SIAR, Vimba vimba, Cara ssius gibeleo, and Seminemacheilus ispartensis were assimilated by S. lucioperca in greater proportion during spring. During autumn, the contribution of fishes to the S. lucioperca food source increased substantially with percentages noted as 83% and 90%, a result obtained by the IsoSource and Bugalho et al. insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2008); models, respectively. The SIAR model, on the other hand, identified fishes, fish eggs, and invertebrates with mean contributions of 35%, 30%, and 16%, respectively. Invertebrates were also an important food source for S. lucioperca during this season according to Bugalho et al. insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2008);. In conclusion, this study showed that S. lucioperca shifted its diet from invertebrates, including crayfish, during spring, to fishes during autumn, a result also supported by the increase in the trophic position of S. lucioperca from spring to the autumn. This study is the first to report results on the food content of S. lucioperca revealed using stable isotope methods in Turkey.
Keywords : Stable isotopes, food web, Lake Eğirdir, Sander lucioperca, mixing model