Disproportionate Relative Importance of a Terrestrial Beetle Family (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) as a Prey Source for Central Appalachian Brook Trout

Utz, Ryan M.; Ratcliffe, Brett C.; Moore, Brett T.; Hartman, Kyle J.

doi:10.1577/t06-057.1

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 33 publications

(49 reference statements)

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“…In the West Virginia streams, terrestrial prey were dominated by a single family of beetle that was most abundant in spring (Utz et al. ). In our study, there were two particularly important orders of terrestrial prey, Isopoda and Hymenoptera, that were abundant during different times of year and helped to drive seasonal patterns in diet composition and monthly fluctuations in consumption.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diet Variability of Steelhead/Rainbow Trout in a Coastal Basin in Central California: Relative Importance of Seasonal, Spatial, and Ontogenetic Variation

Rundio

Lindley

2018

Trans Am Fish Soc

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Diets of stream-dwelling salmonids vary at multiple spatial and temporal scales, but the relative importance of different sources of variation has rarely been evaluated for a population. In a small coastal basin in central California, we sampled diets of steelhead/Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss monthly for a year from two reaches that differed in the presence of streambed travertine (calcium carbonate) to determine the relative magnitude of spatial, seasonal, and ontogenetic variation in consumption and diet composition. Seasonal parameters (cosine function terms for months in periodic regression and multivariate models) and fish size (FL) were greater sources of variation than differences between the two study reaches, and seasonal and ontogenetic patterns were evident despite high interindividual variability. Seasonal parameters explained the most variation in diet composition, which varied in an orderly pattern over the year. Consumption was highest in spring and summer for both aquatic and terrestrial prey, and seasonal parameters accounted for more variation than fish size for consumption of aquatic prey but this was reversed for terrestrial prey and total consumption. The main ontogenetic trend was increased consumption of terrestrial invertebrates: from 15-20% of the energy consumed by 60-100-mm fish to 60% of the energy consumed by fish larger than 160 mm. In addition, diet breadth (taxonomic richness and prey size) and the degree of variation among individuals also increased with fish size. Diet differences between sites were relatively small and included higher consumption of aquatic invertebrates at the site without travertine in 4 months and modest differences in the relative abundances of common prey taxa. Although seasonal and ontogenetic patterns were evident, interindividual variation was the dominant scale of diet variation, and diets of individual fish ranged from specialized to generalized relative to the population. Based on these findings, O. mykiss appeared to be opportunistic feeders that took advantage of diverse aquatic and terrestrial prey available in these study reaches.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diet Variability of Steelhead/Rainbow Trout in a Coastal Basin in Central California: Relative Importance of Seasonal, Spatial, and Ontogenetic Variation

Rundio

Lindley

2018

Trans Am Fish Soc

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“…Larger bluegills, less susceptible to predation, inhabit deeper waters relative to juveniles (Hall and Werner, 1977), where inputs of terrestrial invertebrates are reduced. Terrestrial invertebrates in bluegill diets were primarily coleopterans, in the family Scarabaeidae, which have also been identified as important prey supporting stream brook trout populations (Utz et al, 2007). These beetles are associated with perennial shrubs and deciduous trees, suggesting that the vegetation composition of lake riparian areas could influence linkages between terrestrial invertebrates and fishes as in streams (Wipfli, 1997).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon sources supporting fish growth in a north temperate lake

et al. 2008

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Lake consumers are supported by autochthonous organic matter produced by photosynthesis within the aquatic ecosystem and imported allochthonous material produced outside the ecosystem. To evaluate carbon sources that support fish growth, we enriched a 26 ha lake with inorganic 13 C. This labeled the autochthonous primary production and allowed us to determine the extent to which invertebrates in fish diets were supported by this autochthonous carbon. Fish autochthony was defined as the proportion ranging from 0 to 1 of fish growth derived from aquatic primary production. This proportion was calculated using the weighted average of each diet taxas contribution to fish growth along with the autochthony of diet taxa estimated with dynamic models of d 13 C time series. Age 0 bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) had the highest autochthony (0.56, 0.57, respectively) because of greater use of zooplankton that were highly dependent on phytoplankton. Older fishes (age 1 and above) of all species had similar estimates of autochthony (mean = 0.47 standard deviation = 0.04) derived from feeding on either benthic invertebrates or other fishes. Proportional contribution of terrestrial prey (primarily terrestrial beetles) to fish growth was highest for bluegill (0.07 -0.22) and substantially lower (<0.04) for largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and yellow perch. Across species and ages~45 % of fish growth could not be attributed to terrestrial prey items or current autochthonous primary production. This residual detrital carbon source is a mixture of allochthonous material and autochthonous material derived from primary production prior to the 13 C addition. Fish growth and production in the study lake were not tightly coupled to the current seasons primary production. Nearly half of the organic carbon supporting fish growth came from prior autochthonous primary production or allochthonous sources.

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“…This selection against invasive sawflies is surprising considering soft-bodied terrestrial invertebrates are often preferred prey items by stream fishes (Nakano et al, 1999b;Syrjanen, Korsu, Louhi, Raavola, & Muotka, 2011;Utz, Ratcliffe, Moore, & Hartman, 2007). This selection against invasive sawflies is surprising considering soft-bodied terrestrial invertebrates are often preferred prey items by stream fishes (Nakano et al, 1999b;Syrjanen, Korsu, Louhi, Raavola, & Muotka, 2011;Utz, Ratcliffe, Moore, & Hartman, 2007).…”

Section: Terrestrial Invertebrate Biomassmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The results of the selectivity index suggest that despite the abundance of sawflies, juvenile coho salmon appear to prefer other prey items. This selection against invasive sawflies is surprising considering soft-bodied terrestrial invertebrates are often preferred prey items by stream fishes (Nakano et al, 1999b;Syrjanen, Korsu, Louhi, Raavola, & Muotka, 2011;Utz, Ratcliffe, Moore, & Hartman, 2007). As mentioned above, prey availability and prey consumption do not always overlap possibly due to the mediating roles of prey mixing in the environment and selective foraging behaviour.…”

Section: Terrestrial Invertebrate Biomassmentioning

confidence: 99%

Riparian defoliation by the invasive green alder sawfly influences terrestrial prey subsidies to salmon streams

Roon

Wipfli

Kruse

2018

Ecology of Freshwater Fish

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Invasive species in riparian forests are unique as their effects can transcend ecosystem boundaries via stream‐riparian linkages. The green alder sawfly (Monsoma pulveratum) is an invasive wasp whose larvae are defoliating riparian thin‐leaf alder (Alnus tenuifolia) stands across southcentral Alaska. To test the hypothesis that riparian defoliation by this invasive sawfly negatively affects the flow of terrestrial prey resources to stream fishes, we sampled terrestrial invertebrates on riparian alder foliage, their subsidies to streams and their consumption by juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). Invasive sawflies altered the composition of terrestrial invertebrates on riparian alder foliage and as terrestrial prey subsidies to streams. Community analyses supported these findings revealing that invasive sawflies shifted the community structure of terrestrial invertebrates between seasons and levels of energy flow (riparian foliage, streams and fish). Invasive sawfly biomass peaked mid‐summer, altering the timing and magnitude of terrestrial prey subsidies to streams. Contrary to our hypothesis, invasive sawflies had no effect on the biomass of native taxa on riparian alder foliage, as terrestrial prey subsidies, or in juvenile coho salmon diets. Juvenile coho salmon consumed invasive sawflies when most abundant, but relied more on other prey types selecting against sawflies relative to their availability. Although we did not find effects of invasive sawflies extending to juvenile coho salmon in this study, these results could change as the distribution of invasive sawflies expands or as defoliation intensifies. Nevertheless, riparian defoliation by these invasive sawflies is likely having other ecological effects that merits further investigation.

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Disproportionate Relative Importance of a Terrestrial Beetle Family (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) as a Prey Source for Central Appalachian Brook Trout

Cited by 8 publications

References 33 publications

Diet Variability of Steelhead/Rainbow Trout in a Coastal Basin in Central California: Relative Importance of Seasonal, Spatial, and Ontogenetic Variation

Diet Variability of Steelhead/Rainbow Trout in a Coastal Basin in Central California: Relative Importance of Seasonal, Spatial, and Ontogenetic Variation

Carbon sources supporting fish growth in a north temperate lake

Riparian defoliation by the invasive green alder sawfly influences terrestrial prey subsidies to salmon streams

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