de la Vega, Camille, Mahaffey, Claire 
ORCID: 0000-0002-4215-7271, Tuerena, Robyn E, Yurkowski, David J, Ferguson, Steven H, Stenson, Garry B, Nordøy, Erling S, Haug, Tore, Biuw, Martin, Smout, Sophie et al (show 3 more authors)
(2021)
Arctic seals as tracers of environmental and ecological change.
Limnology and Oceanography Letters, 6 (1).
pp. 24-32.
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Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Knowledge of species trophic position (TP) is an essential component of ecosystem management. Determining TP from stable nitrogen isotopes (δ<jats:sup>15</jats:sup>N) in predators requires understanding how these tracers vary across environments and how they relate to predator isotope composition. We used two seal species as a model for determining TP across large spatial scales in the Arctic. δ<jats:sup>15</jats:sup>N in seawater nitrate (δ<jats:sup>15</jats:sup>N<jats:sub>NO3</jats:sub>) and seal muscle amino acids (δ<jats:sup>15</jats:sup>N<jats:sub>AA</jats:sub>) were determined to independently characterize the base of the food web and the TP of harp and ringed seals, demonstrating a direct link between δ<jats:sup>15</jats:sup>N<jats:sub>NO3</jats:sub> and δ<jats:sup>15</jats:sup>N<jats:sub>AA</jats:sub>. Our results show that the spatial variation in δ<jats:sup>15</jats:sup>N<jats:sub>AA</jats:sub> in seals reflects the δ<jats:sup>15</jats:sup>N<jats:sub>NO3</jats:sub> end members in Pacific vs. Atlantic waters. This study provides a reference for best practice on accurate comparison of TP in predators and as such, provides a framework to assess the impact of environmental and human‐induced changes on ecosystems at pan‐Arctic scales.</jats:p>
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 17 Nov 2020 11:41 |
| Last Modified: | 04 Sep 2023 19:04 |
| DOI: | 10.1002/lol2.10176 |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3107242 |
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