A1 Journal article (refereed)
Species interactions, environmental gradients and body size shape population niche width (2022)
Eloranta, A. P., Finstad, A. G., Sandlund, O. T., Knudsen, R., Kuparinen, A., & Amundsen, P. (2022). Species interactions, environmental gradients and body size shape population niche width. Journal of Animal Ecology, 91(1), 154-169. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13611
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Eloranta, Antti P.; Finstad, Anders G.; Sandlund, Odd Terje; Knudsen, Rune; Kuparinen, Anna; Amundsen, Per‐Arne
Journal or series: Journal of Animal Ecology
ISSN: 0021-8790
eISSN: 1365-2656
Publication year: 2022
Publication date: 17/10/2021
Volume: 91
Issue number: 1
Pages range: 154-169
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13611
Research data link: https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.gf1vhhmqz
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/78593
Abstract
Here we study the effects of inter- and intraspecific interactions, lake area and altitude, and fish body size on the trophic niche width and resource use of a generalist predator, the littoral-dwelling large, sparsely-rakered morph of European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus; hereafter LSR whitefish). We use stable isotope, diet and survey fishing data from 14 subarctic lakes along an environmental gradient in northern Norway.
The isotopic niche width of LSR whitefish showed a humped-shaped relationship with increasing relative abundance of sympatric competitors, suggesting widest population niche at intermediate intensity of interspecific interactions. The isotopic niche width of LSR whitefish tended to decrease with increasing altitude, suggesting reduced niche in colder, less productive lakes.
LSR whitefish typically shifted to a higher trophic position and increased reliance on littoral food resources with increasing body size, although between-lake differences in ontogenetic niche shifts were evident. In most lakes, LSR whitefish relied less on littoral food resources than coexisting fishes and the niche overlap between sympatric competitors was most evident among relatively large individuals (>250 mm). Individual niche variation was highest among >200 mm long LSR whitefish, which likely have escaped the predation window of sympatric predators.
We demonstrate that intermediate intensity of interspecific interactions may broaden species’ niche width, whereas strong competition for limited resources and high predation risk may suppress niche width in less productive environments. Acknowledging potential humped-shaped relationships between population niche width and interspecific interactions can help us understand species’ responses to environmental disturbance (e.g., climate change and species invasions) as well as the driving forces of niche specialization.
Keywords: aquatic ecosystems; food webs; types and species; interaction; populations; ecological niche; nutrition; life cycle (natural science); size; Coregonus lavaretus
Free keywords: diet selection; high-latitude lakes; individual specialization; niche expansion; ontogeny; resource competition; salmonid; trophic niche
Contributing organizations
Related projects
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- Research Council of Finland
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faced with human-induced and environmental stress- Kuparinen, Anna
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Related research datasets
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2022
JUFO rating: 2