Depth gradients in food-web processes linking habitats in large lakes: Lake Superior as an exemplar ecosystem

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (10) ◽  
pp. 2122-2136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael E. Sierszen ◽  
Thomas R. Hrabik ◽  
Jason D. Stockwell ◽  
Anne M. Cotter ◽  
Joel C. Hoffman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Web ◽  
Lake Superior ◽  
Large Lakes ◽  
Depth Gradients

Depth-specific patterns in benthic–planktonic food web relationships in Lake Superior

2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (7) ◽  
pp. 1496-1503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael E Sierszen ◽  
Gregory S Peterson ◽  
Jill V Scharold
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Food Web ◽  
Food Webs ◽  
Water Column ◽  
Trophic Position ◽  
Lake Superior ◽  
Benthic Algae ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Large Lakes

In an investigation of the spatial characteristics of Laurentian Great Lakes food webs, we examined the trophic relationship between benthic amphipods (Diporeia) and plankton in Lake Superior. We analyzed the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of Diporeia and plankton at stations in water column depths of 4–300 m. Neither δ15N nor δ13C of plankton from the upper 50 m of the water column varied significantly with station depth. Diporeia isotope ratios exhibited depth-specific patterns reflecting changes in food sources and food web relationships with plankton. Diporeia was 13C enriched at station depths of <40 m, reflecting increased dietary importance of benthic algae. There was a systematic increase in Diporeia δ15N with depth, which appeared to result from a combination of dietary shifts in the nearshore and decompositional changes in Diporeia's principal food, sedimented plankton, in deep habitats. Diporeia δ13C and δ15N together described changes in food web isotope baseline with depth. They also discriminated three depth strata representing photic, mid-depth, and profundal zones. These findings have implications for our understanding of Great Lakes food webs and analyses of trophic position within them, the ecology of zoobenthos and plankton communities, and sampling designs for large lakes.

Importance of the microbial food web in large lakes (USA)

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 3170-3175
Author(s):  
Hunter J. Carrick ◽  
Aneal Padmanabha ◽  
Laurie Weaver ◽  
Gary L. Fahnenstiel ◽  
Charles R. Goldman
Keyword(s):  
Food Web ◽  
Microbial Food Web ◽  
Large Lakes

Bioaccumulation of Toxaphene Congeners in the Lake Superior Food Web

2004 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 316-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek C.G. Muir ◽  
D. Michael Whittle ◽  
David S. De Vault ◽  
Charles R. Bronte ◽  
Heidi Karlsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Web ◽  
Lake Superior

Organochlorine Compounds in Lake Superior:  Chiral Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Biotransformation in the Aquatic Food Web

2004 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles S. Wong ◽  
Scott A. Mabury ◽  
D. Michael Whittle ◽  
Sean M. Backus ◽  
Camilla Teixeira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽  
Food Web ◽  
Lake Superior ◽  
Organochlorine Compounds ◽  
Aquatic Food Web ◽  
Chiral Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽  
Aquatic Food

Hydrology and nutrient effects on food-web structure in ten lake superior coastal wetlands

Wetlands ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 951-964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael E. Sierszen ◽  
Gregory S. Peterson ◽  
Anett S. Trebitz ◽  
John C. Brazner ◽  
Corlis W. West
Keyword(s):  
Food Web ◽  
Coastal Wetlands ◽  
Lake Superior ◽  
Food Web Structure ◽  
Web Structure ◽  
Nutrient Effects

A stable isotope evaluation of the structure and spatial heterogeneity of a Lake Superior food web

2000 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 1395-1403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris J Harvey ◽  
James F Kitchell
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Spatial Heterogeneity ◽  
Food Web ◽  
Lake Trout ◽  
Trophic Position ◽  
Lake Superior ◽  
Salvelinus Namaycush ◽  
Trophic Relationships ◽  
Rainbow Smelt ◽  
Western Lake

We used stable isotope analysis to derive trophic relationships and movement patterns for components of the western Lake Superior food web. Trophic linkages implied by previous gut content studies were only marginally supported by stable isotope data. Siscowet lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush siscowet) were the top predators, and trophic overlap between siscowet and lean lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) was low. Exotic Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) occupied a lower trophic position than native piscivores because the latter relied more on coregonids. To evaluate spatial heterogeneity of the food web, we assumed that the adjacent cities of Duluth and Superior (DS) were a point source of 15N, and we measured isotopes of organisms close to and far from DS. Slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) were enriched in the DS area relative to other sites, implying that they are relatively sedentary. Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) showed no differences at any sites, implying high vagility. Other organisms showed differences that could not be attributed to DS, implying that other mechanisms, such as trophic ontogeny, were influencing their isotopic signatures.

Sustainability of the Lake Superior Fish Community: Interactions in a Food Web Context

Ecosystems ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 545-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
James F. Kitchell ◽  
Sean P. Cox ◽  
Chris J. Harvey ◽  
Timothy B. Johnson ◽  
Doran M. Mason ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Web ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Lake Superior ◽  
Community Interactions
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