Sex and species specific isotopic niche specialisation increases with trophic complexity: evidence from an ephemeral pond ecosystem.

ABSTRACT: It is generally accepted that organisms that naturally exploit an ecosystem facilitate coexistence, at least partially, through resource partitioning. Resource availability is, however, highly variable in space and time and as such the extent of resource partitioning must be somewhat dependent on availability. Here we test aspects of resource partitioning at the inter- and intra-specific level, in relation to resource availability in an atypical aquatic environment using an isotope approach. Using closely related key organisms from an ephemeral pond, we test for differences in isotopic signatures between two species of copepod and between sexes within each species, in relation to heterogeneity of basal food resources over the course of the ponds hydroperiod. We show that basal food resourc

SUBMITTER: Dalu T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5324113 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature