Trophic flexibility by roach Rutilus rutilus in novel habitats facilitates rapid growth and invasion success

Hayden B.; Massa-gallucci, A; Harrod, C; O'Grady M.; Caffrey, J; Kelly-quinn, M

Abstract

Stable isotope and gut content analyses, in conjunction with backcalculatedlength-at-age estimates of growth, were employed to examine the relationship between trophic ecology and growthrate of a successful invader, Rutilus rutilus, in eight lakes in Ireland. The data revealed that R. rutilus was a trophic generalist in Irish lakes. It utilized a greater proportion of pelagic resources in mesotrophic lakes than in eutrophic lakes, potentially due to a greater density of benthic macroinvertebrates in eutrophic systems. The species was characterized by a large dietary and isotopic niche width and high temporal and spatial variations in diet. Growth rates were typical of those found in the native range of the species and were unrelated to either lake productivity or fish's diet. A generalist trophic ecology confers significant advantages on an invasive species, allowing it to exploit a variety of novel resources and fluctuations in prey availability.

Más información

Título según WOS: Trophic flexibility by roach Rutilus rutilus in novel habitats facilitates rapid growth and invasion success
Título según SCOPUS: Trophic flexibility by roach Rutilus rutilus in novel habitats facilitates rapid growth and invasion success
Título de la Revista: JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
Volumen: 84
Número: 4
Editorial: Wiley
Fecha de publicación: 2014
Página de inicio: 1099
Página final: 1116
Idioma: English
DOI:

10.1111/jfb.12351

Notas: ISI, SCOPUS