Spatial and ontogenetic variation in isotopic niche among recovering fish communities revealed by Bayesian modeling.

ABSTRACT: Exploitation and changing ocean conditions have resulted in altered species interactions and varied population dynamics within marine fish communities off northeast Newfoundland and southern Labrador, Canada. To understand contemporary species interactions, we quantified the isotopic niches, niche overlap, and ontogenetic niche change among seven dominant fish species using stable isotope analyses. Analyses used fishes from three regions differing in fish and prey diversities. Differences in fish and diet composition diversity among regions were found using Simpson's inverse diversity index. The regions of lowest diversities had higher instances of niche overlap and higher percentage of niche overlap area. The region of highest diversity had the widest spread of niches with greater distanc

SUBMITTER: Krumsick KJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6472828 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature