Trophic structure of fish assemblages in two offshore islands (Ulleungdo and Dokdo) of Korea revealed using stable isotope analysis
The objective of this study was to characterize the trophic structure of fish assemblages on the coasts of offshore islands and the eastern mainland of the Korean Peninsula. We compared the seasonal variability in the trophic structure of fish assemblages between the coasts of two island sites (Ulle...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1293542/full |
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| author | Tae Hee Park Tae Hee Park Dong-Young Lee Hee Yoon Kang Joo Myun Park Dongyoung Kim Hyun Je Park |
| author_facet | Tae Hee Park Tae Hee Park Dong-Young Lee Hee Yoon Kang Joo Myun Park Dongyoung Kim Hyun Je Park |
| author_sort | Tae Hee Park |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The objective of this study was to characterize the trophic structure of fish assemblages on the coasts of offshore islands and the eastern mainland of the Korean Peninsula. We compared the seasonal variability in the trophic structure of fish assemblages between the coasts of two island sites (Ulleungdo and Dokdo) and one mainland site (Hupo), which are on a similar latitude. We analyzed the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) of fish assemblages during spring (April) and summer (August) 2021. No temporal differences in the isotope values of fish and basal resources (i.e., suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM)) were found over the sampling period at the Hupo site. In contrast, at the Ulleungdo and Dokdo sites, the fishes and SPOM showed seasonal differences in the δ13C and δ15N values between the two seasons. In particular, the fish δ15N values at the island sites were relatively higher in summer compared to those in spring, suggesting the seasonal variation in the food chains and/or trophic status between consumers and their dietary sources. These regional isotopic variations also result in differences in the seasonal tendencies of the isotopic niche parameters of fish assemblages between the mainland and island coasts. Such differences in the seasonal isotopic patterns of fish assemblages suggest a relatively substantial shift in the dietary resources available to fish consumers on island coasts compared to those on the mainland coast. Overall, our results suggest that fish assemblages in offshore island coasts have distinct seasonal variability in trophic characteristics in response to changing environmental conditions, including basal resources, compared with fish food webs on the mainland coast at similar latitudes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:43:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b8498177c94b42989921a426d6b3f4a9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:43:44Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-b8498177c94b42989921a426d6b3f4a92024-01-25T04:32:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452024-01-011110.3389/fmars.2024.12935421293542Trophic structure of fish assemblages in two offshore islands (Ulleungdo and Dokdo) of Korea revealed using stable isotope analysisTae Hee Park0Tae Hee Park1Dong-Young Lee2Hee Yoon Kang3Joo Myun Park4Dongyoung Kim5Hyun Je Park6Department of Marine Ecology and Environment, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Republic of KoreaMarine Environment Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Busan, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Marine Ecology and Environment, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Oceanography, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of KoreaDokdo Research Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Uljin, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Marine Ecology and Environment, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Marine Ecology and Environment, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Republic of KoreaThe objective of this study was to characterize the trophic structure of fish assemblages on the coasts of offshore islands and the eastern mainland of the Korean Peninsula. We compared the seasonal variability in the trophic structure of fish assemblages between the coasts of two island sites (Ulleungdo and Dokdo) and one mainland site (Hupo), which are on a similar latitude. We analyzed the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) of fish assemblages during spring (April) and summer (August) 2021. No temporal differences in the isotope values of fish and basal resources (i.e., suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM)) were found over the sampling period at the Hupo site. In contrast, at the Ulleungdo and Dokdo sites, the fishes and SPOM showed seasonal differences in the δ13C and δ15N values between the two seasons. In particular, the fish δ15N values at the island sites were relatively higher in summer compared to those in spring, suggesting the seasonal variation in the food chains and/or trophic status between consumers and their dietary sources. These regional isotopic variations also result in differences in the seasonal tendencies of the isotopic niche parameters of fish assemblages between the mainland and island coasts. Such differences in the seasonal isotopic patterns of fish assemblages suggest a relatively substantial shift in the dietary resources available to fish consumers on island coasts compared to those on the mainland coast. Overall, our results suggest that fish assemblages in offshore island coasts have distinct seasonal variability in trophic characteristics in response to changing environmental conditions, including basal resources, compared with fish food webs on the mainland coast at similar latitudes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1293542/fullUlleungdoDokdofish assemblagestrophic structurestable isotopesisotopic niches |
| spellingShingle | Tae Hee Park Tae Hee Park Dong-Young Lee Hee Yoon Kang Joo Myun Park Dongyoung Kim Hyun Je Park Trophic structure of fish assemblages in two offshore islands (Ulleungdo and Dokdo) of Korea revealed using stable isotope analysis Frontiers in Marine Science Ulleungdo Dokdo fish assemblages trophic structure stable isotopes isotopic niches |
| title | Trophic structure of fish assemblages in two offshore islands (Ulleungdo and Dokdo) of Korea revealed using stable isotope analysis |
| title_full | Trophic structure of fish assemblages in two offshore islands (Ulleungdo and Dokdo) of Korea revealed using stable isotope analysis |
| title_fullStr | Trophic structure of fish assemblages in two offshore islands (Ulleungdo and Dokdo) of Korea revealed using stable isotope analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trophic structure of fish assemblages in two offshore islands (Ulleungdo and Dokdo) of Korea revealed using stable isotope analysis |
| title_short | Trophic structure of fish assemblages in two offshore islands (Ulleungdo and Dokdo) of Korea revealed using stable isotope analysis |
| title_sort | trophic structure of fish assemblages in two offshore islands ulleungdo and dokdo of korea revealed using stable isotope analysis |
| topic | Ulleungdo Dokdo fish assemblages trophic structure stable isotopes isotopic niches |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1293542/full |
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