Spatial variation in carbon source use and trophic position of ringed seals across a latitudinal gradient of sea ice
Anthropogenic climate change is causing changes to the Arctic sea-ice system with implications for the magnitude and timing of Arctic pelagic and ice-associated (sympagic) primary production that influences food web interactions. Ringed seals (Pusa hispida) are generalist predators that, as a specie...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X22012195 |
| _version_ | 1811314875267284992 |
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| author | Cody G. Carlyle James D. Roth David J. Yurkowski Doreen Kohlbach Brent G. Young Thomas A. Brown Frank F. Riget Rune Dietz Steven H. Ferguson |
| author_facet | Cody G. Carlyle James D. Roth David J. Yurkowski Doreen Kohlbach Brent G. Young Thomas A. Brown Frank F. Riget Rune Dietz Steven H. Ferguson |
| author_sort | Cody G. Carlyle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Anthropogenic climate change is causing changes to the Arctic sea-ice system with implications for the magnitude and timing of Arctic pelagic and ice-associated (sympagic) primary production that influences food web interactions. Ringed seals (Pusa hispida) are generalist predators that, as a species experience vastly different icescapes from low to high-Arctic latitudes. Quantifying spatial variation in their diet can help us understand how changes in sea-ice dynamics affect trophic interactions in Arctic marine food webs. However, multiple complementary analytical tools to examine variation in carbon source use and trophic dynamics in the diet of ringed seals have not yet been applied across their latitudinal range in the Arctic. We conducted stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ15N) and measured highly branched isoprenoid diatom lipid biomarkers of ringed seals from the low, intermediate, and high Arctic (from 61.1°N to 77.5°N) to investigate spatial variation in their carbon source use and trophic position in relation to sea-ice dynamics. Both δ13C and highly branched isoprenoids indicated that ringed seals from higher latitudes had more sympagic carbon in their diet (liver δ13C: −18.3 ± 0.2 ‰, HBI: 89.9 ± 2.08 %) than ringed seals at lower latitudes (liver δ13C: −21.1 ± 0.1 ‰, HBI: 22.0 ± 2.73 %). Ringed seal trophic position increased from the low (3.78 ± 0.02) to high (4.76 ± 0.03) Arctic, suggesting increased fish consumption or a different trophic structure coinciding with the latitudinal change in carbon source. Ringed seals demonstrated a clear shift from low to high Arctic in the relative contribution of phytoplanktonic vs sympagic primary production. These patterns are likely linked to the vastly different icescapes in these environments and demonstrate that shifts in primary producer composition and Arctic food webs can be identified in ringed seal diets. Information on these prey and energy shifts over large spatial scales also provides insights into potential future changes to Arctic ecosystem function with continued sea-ice decline. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T11:19:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b51a0f7980d1476f8f6b4f74c78ef04b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1470-160X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T11:19:12Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Indicators |
| spelling | doaj.art-b51a0f7980d1476f8f6b4f74c78ef04b2022-12-22T02:48:52ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2022-12-01145109746Spatial variation in carbon source use and trophic position of ringed seals across a latitudinal gradient of sea iceCody G. Carlyle0James D. Roth1David J. Yurkowski2Doreen Kohlbach3Brent G. Young4Thomas A. Brown5Frank F. Riget6Rune Dietz7Steven H. Ferguson8Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, 50 Sifton Road, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada; Corresponding author at: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada.Department of Biological Sciences, 50 Sifton Road, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, CanadaFisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, 50 Sifton Road, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, CanadaFisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada; Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, NorwayFisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, CanadaMarine Ecology and Chemistry, Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban, United Kingdom; School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United KingdomAarhus University, Roskilde, DenmarkAarhus University, Roskilde, DenmarkFisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, 50 Sifton Road, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, CanadaAnthropogenic climate change is causing changes to the Arctic sea-ice system with implications for the magnitude and timing of Arctic pelagic and ice-associated (sympagic) primary production that influences food web interactions. Ringed seals (Pusa hispida) are generalist predators that, as a species experience vastly different icescapes from low to high-Arctic latitudes. Quantifying spatial variation in their diet can help us understand how changes in sea-ice dynamics affect trophic interactions in Arctic marine food webs. However, multiple complementary analytical tools to examine variation in carbon source use and trophic dynamics in the diet of ringed seals have not yet been applied across their latitudinal range in the Arctic. We conducted stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ15N) and measured highly branched isoprenoid diatom lipid biomarkers of ringed seals from the low, intermediate, and high Arctic (from 61.1°N to 77.5°N) to investigate spatial variation in their carbon source use and trophic position in relation to sea-ice dynamics. Both δ13C and highly branched isoprenoids indicated that ringed seals from higher latitudes had more sympagic carbon in their diet (liver δ13C: −18.3 ± 0.2 ‰, HBI: 89.9 ± 2.08 %) than ringed seals at lower latitudes (liver δ13C: −21.1 ± 0.1 ‰, HBI: 22.0 ± 2.73 %). Ringed seal trophic position increased from the low (3.78 ± 0.02) to high (4.76 ± 0.03) Arctic, suggesting increased fish consumption or a different trophic structure coinciding with the latitudinal change in carbon source. Ringed seals demonstrated a clear shift from low to high Arctic in the relative contribution of phytoplanktonic vs sympagic primary production. These patterns are likely linked to the vastly different icescapes in these environments and demonstrate that shifts in primary producer composition and Arctic food webs can be identified in ringed seal diets. Information on these prey and energy shifts over large spatial scales also provides insights into potential future changes to Arctic ecosystem function with continued sea-ice decline.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X22012195Pusa hispidaStable isotope ratiosHighly branched isoprenoidsArcticIce algaeFood web |
| spellingShingle | Cody G. Carlyle James D. Roth David J. Yurkowski Doreen Kohlbach Brent G. Young Thomas A. Brown Frank F. Riget Rune Dietz Steven H. Ferguson Spatial variation in carbon source use and trophic position of ringed seals across a latitudinal gradient of sea ice Ecological Indicators Pusa hispida Stable isotope ratios Highly branched isoprenoids Arctic Ice algae Food web |
| title | Spatial variation in carbon source use and trophic position of ringed seals across a latitudinal gradient of sea ice |
| title_full | Spatial variation in carbon source use and trophic position of ringed seals across a latitudinal gradient of sea ice |
| title_fullStr | Spatial variation in carbon source use and trophic position of ringed seals across a latitudinal gradient of sea ice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatial variation in carbon source use and trophic position of ringed seals across a latitudinal gradient of sea ice |
| title_short | Spatial variation in carbon source use and trophic position of ringed seals across a latitudinal gradient of sea ice |
| title_sort | spatial variation in carbon source use and trophic position of ringed seals across a latitudinal gradient of sea ice |
| topic | Pusa hispida Stable isotope ratios Highly branched isoprenoids Arctic Ice algae Food web |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X22012195 |
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