Fish Stomachs as a Biomonitoring Tool in Studies of Invertebrate Recovery

Fjellheim, Arne; Tysse, Åsmund; Bjerknes, V.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-5885-1_32

Cited by 6 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…But also other items have to be considered, because the Hardangervidda National Park regulations also state that it is forbidden to introduce any fish into previously fishless lakes (Anonymous 2003). One of the main arguments for this prohibition is based on the changed densities of many invertebrates like the tadpole shrimp L. arcticus because of fish predation (Aass 1969;Jeppesen et al 2001;Fjellheim et al 2007), and the resulting negative effects such changes may have on other biota (i. e. diving ducks) which feed on aquatic invertebrates (DesGranges & Gagnon 1994). Therefore, the biodiversity of the whole Hardangervidda ecosystem has to be addressed in a combined effort.…”

Section: Management Of the Hardangervidda Troutmentioning

confidence: 99%

High genetic introgression in alpine brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) populations from Hardangervidda, Norway

Sønstebø

Borgstrøm

Heun

2007

Ecology of Freshwater Fish

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We studied the effect of stocking brown trout in three alpine lakes (Skavatn, Midtre Grøndalsvatn and Nordmannslågen) of the Hardangervidda mountain plateau by comparing microsatellite data from historical (1933 and 1967) and contemporary (2003) population samples. Historical and contemporary samples from a control lake (Krokavatn) and a contemporary sample from Gjuvsjå (suspected donor lake) were included as well. A total of 331 brown trout were genotyped with 11 microsatellites. Very low level of genetic diversity is observed in the historical samples from Nordmannslågen and Midtre Grøndalsvatn but not in the contemporary samples. In Skavatn historical and contemporary samples show similar genetic diversity as in the other contemporary samples. Admixture analyses with the structure program indicate high levels of introgression by nonnative brown trout in all three lakes. The stocking source for two lakes (i.e. from Gjuvsjå) is partially verifiable via our analyses. The high introgression in these lakes is discussed and the management issues are briefly addressed.

show abstract

Section: Management Of the Hardangervidda Troutmentioning

confidence: 99%

High genetic introgression in alpine brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) populations from Hardangervidda, Norway

Sønstebø

Borgstrøm

Heun

2007

Ecology of Freshwater Fish

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In 2007 B. pomonae was observed in Lake Songa (Saltveit & Brabrand 2008), in Lake Svartavatnet and Lake Svartavasstjørni (Fjellheim et al 2008) on the Hardangervidda Mountain plateau in addition to Lake Sandvatn. A google-search also noted it from the Valdres region.…”

Section: Mass Aggregations Of Bibio Pomonae On the Scandinavian Peninmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mass aggregations of Bibio pomonae (Insecta: Diptera: Bibionidae), an indication of climate change?

Qvenild

Rognerud

2017

Fauna Norv.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Examination of stomach contents of the brown trout is a sensitive method to evaluate the animals occurring in a lake and its surroundings. Yearly test fishing from Lake Sandvatn at the Hardangervidda Mountain plateau in August has shown regular occurrence of Bibio pomonae in the brown trout stomachs every third year since 2001. The stomach fullness and selectivity for other food items is influenced by the local weather conditions, but in calm and sunny weather, mass aggregation of B. pomonae are reflected by high stomach fullness and the brown trout predate B. pomonae selectively. The stomach fullness with B. pomonae may give a significant measure of the mass aggregation phenomena in such periods. On the Hardangervidda Mountain plateau mass aggregation have been observed regularly every third year since 2001. Mass aggregations elsewhere on the southern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula seem to follow the same pattern, but with a one-year delay in the northern part. Our results substantiate that mass aggregations of B. pomonae seem to be an irregular phenomenon in the previous century. In 2016 mass aggregation of B. pomonae was observed in the southern part of the Norwegian mountain range with its maximum abundance in the lower alpine zone. The abundance seems to have extended its maximum from the subalpine zone into the lower alpine zone. Mass aggregations were observed 1678 m a.s.l., 318 m higher up than previously recorded. In 2016 B. pomonae was also recorded earlier than ever before. Climate change may be a driver of the regular mass aggregations, the apparently increase in strength, the elevation of the abundance maximum, the new extreme altitude swarming, and the early hatchings seen after 2000.

show abstract

“…The brown trout is an opportunistic feeder and the diet changes with food availability. Examination of stomach contents has proved to be a reliable method to evaluate the animals occurring in a lake and its surroundings, at least in relative terms (Sømme 1934;Aass 1969;Borgstrøm 1970;Fjellheim et al 2007;Qvenild & Rognerud 2018). Especially in the search for L. arcticus this method is sensitive even when L. arcticus occur in low densities (Fjellheim et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Examination of stomach contents has proved to be a reliable method to evaluate the animals occurring in a lake and its surroundings, at least in relative terms (Sømme 1934;Aass 1969;Borgstrøm 1970;Fjellheim et al 2007;Qvenild & Rognerud 2018). Especially in the search for L. arcticus this method is sensitive even when L. arcticus occur in low densities (Fjellheim et al 2007). Due to its big size L. arcticus is a nutrition rich and highly preferred food item (Aass 1969;Fjellheim et al 2007;Borgstrøm 2016;Qvenild & Rognerud 2018), hence we assume that the frequency of brown trout eating L. arcticus reflects the population densities of L. arcticus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Especially in the search for L. arcticus this method is sensitive even when L. arcticus occur in low densities (Fjellheim et al 2007). Due to its big size L. arcticus is a nutrition rich and highly preferred food item (Aass 1969;Fjellheim et al 2007;Borgstrøm 2016;Qvenild & Rognerud 2018), hence we assume that the frequency of brown trout eating L. arcticus reflects the population densities of L. arcticus. In this study, we analysed 4 460 brown trout stomachs from 235 different fishing events in six lakes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Climatic effects on a cold stenotherm species Lepidurus arcticus (Branchiopoda, Notostraca) on the southern outreach of its distribution range

Qvenild

Fjeld²,

Fjellheim³

et al. 2018

Fauna Norv.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

On the Norwegian mainland, the Arctic tadpole shrimp Lepidurus arcticus is a typically alpine species mainly co-occurring with fish. The Hardangervidda mountain plateau is the main area of the southernmost L. arcticus populations. Here L. arcticus is widely distributed, especially in the central and eastern parts of the plateau. Lepidurus arcticus has a univoltine life cycle emerging from resting eggs at ice break-up and fulfil development during the short mountain summer, before they reproduce and die. The main goal in this study was to investigate the thermal thresholds for L. arcticus. Timing of ice break-up and the proceeding water temperature are hypothesized to constitute the primary drivers of L. arcticus's development and growth. Stomach analyses of brown trout is the most sensitive method for sampling L. arcticus, especially at low densities. Analyses of 4 460 brown trout stomachs revealed that at least 400 degree-days are needed for development and growth from hatching in to adults. It is a significant gradient in climatic conditions on Hardangervidda with a coastal impact in the western part of the plateau with a three - to fourfold winter deposition compared to a dryer inland region in the east. The snow deposits have increased since the 1980s and snow rich winters have been more frequent. An additional increase is projected. This may give lower water temperature and shorter ice-free seasons. Thus, the cold western lakes could be even more hostile habitats for L. arcticus. During the same period, an abrupt increase in spring-summer temperatures was detected. This has improved the conditions for L. arcticus in many lakes. However, as a cold stenotherm species a further increase in temperature may be detrimental. Especially in shallow lakes in the central and eastern parts this may be a problem even without reaching critical levels by inducing life cycle mismatches.

show abstract

Fish Stomachs as a Biomonitoring Tool in Studies of Invertebrate Recovery

Cited by 6 publications

References 16 publications

High genetic introgression in alpine brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) populations from Hardangervidda, Norway

High genetic introgression in alpine brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) populations from Hardangervidda, Norway

Mass aggregations of Bibio pomonae (Insecta: Diptera: Bibionidae), an indication of climate change?

Climatic effects on a cold stenotherm species Lepidurus arcticus (Branchiopoda, Notostraca) on the southern outreach of its distribution range

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About