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An evaluation of the diet of Mysis relicta using gut contents and fatty acid profiles in lakes with and without the invader Bythotrephes longimanus (Onychopoda, Cercopagidae)

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Abstract

Diets of Mysis relicta from four lakes in central Ontario that had been invaded by Bythotrephes longimanus and three lakes that had not been invaded were investigated using gut content analysis and fatty acid (FA) composition. Gut content analysis of M. relicta revealed a high incidence of cannibalism in all lakes, and consumption of B. longimanus and native zooplanktivorous midges in the genus Chaoborus in lakes where these were present. Cladocera other than B. longimanus were present in the guts of all M. relicta examined except those from Bernard Lake, the lake with the most B. longimanus. In that lake, B. longimanus was the most frequent diet item. Copepod remains were found in 60–100% of M. relicta guts with the lowest frequency occurring in Bernard Lake. Fatty acids (FA) that contributed strongly to the variation in FA composition in M. relicta, as revealed by a principal component analysis, were C16:0 (palmitic acid), C16:1n7 (palmitoleic acid), C18:1n9c (oleic acid), C20:4n6 (arachidonic acid), C20:5n3 (eicosapentaenoic acid), and C22:6n3 (docosahexaenoic acid). Significant differences in FA amount and composition of M. relicta were found between invaded and non-invaded lakes, and among lakes within these groups. Generally, M. relicta in non-invaded lakes had higher concentrations of C16:0, C18:1n9c, C18:2n6c (linoleic acid), C18:3n3 (α-linolenic acid) and C20:4n6, while M. relicta in invaded lakes had higher concentrations of C22:6n3. Two of the non-invaded lakes had lower water transparency, as measured by Secchi depth, which may be the reason why mysids and abundant populations of Chaoborus spp. could be found in the water column during the day. However, differences in FA profiles and gut contents of M. relicta between invaded and non-invaded lakes are consistent with competition for Cladocera in the presence of the invader rather than pre-existing differences among lakes. We conclude that the diet of M. relicta is affected by the invasion of B. longimanus.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Emily Parrott, and Norman Yan of York University for the B. longimanus abundance data. Thank you to Kelly Bowen, Rob Quinn, Tyler Spencer, John Butler, and Rachel Nagtegaal for help in the field and in the laboratory. Secchi depth data were provided by A. Strecker (Department of Biology, Queen’s University) and J. Hovius (Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph). Funding for this research was provided by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada through the Environmental Science Strategic Research Fund (ESSFR), an NSERC PGSM Scholarship to LJN, and by Environment Canada.

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  1. Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    L. J. Nordin & W. D. Taylor

  2. National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, 867 Lakeshore Rd, L7R 4A6, Burlington, ON, Canada

    M. T. Arts

  3. Great Lakes Laboratory for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Fisheries and Oceans, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, 867 Lakeshore Rd, L7R 4A6, Burlington, ON, Canada

    O. E. Johannsson

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  1. L. J. Nordin
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Correspondence to W. D. Taylor.

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Nordin, L.J., Arts, M.T., Johannsson, O.E. et al. An evaluation of the diet of Mysis relicta using gut contents and fatty acid profiles in lakes with and without the invader Bythotrephes longimanus (Onychopoda, Cercopagidae). Aquat Ecol 42, 421–436 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-007-9098-y

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