Guðbjörg Ásta Ólafsdóttir1, Ragnar Edvardsson2, Sandra Timsic3, Ramona Harrison4, William P Patterson3. 1. Research Centre of the Westfjords, University of Iceland, Hafnargata 9b, IS415, Bolungarvík, Iceland. gaol@hi.is. 2. Research Centre of the Westfjords, University of Iceland, Hafnargata 9b, IS415, Bolungarvík, Iceland. 3. Saskatchewan Isotope Laboratory, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada. 4. Department of Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies and Religion, University of Bergen, Øysteinsgate 3, 5007, Bergen, Norway.
Abstract
Stable isotope analyses of zooarchaeological material can be used to examine ecological variability in exploited species at centennial to millennial scales. Climate change is a notable driver of marine ecosystem change, although historical fishing is also likely to have impacted past marine systems. Fishing removes the oldest and largest individuals and may thereby result in shorter trophic pathways and reduced niche width of predatory fish species. In the current study we examine the trophic niche of Atlantic cod, haddock and Atlantic wolffish, in the last millennium using δ13C and δ15N values of bone collagen. We report a lower trophic level of Atlantic cod and haddock but higher level of wolffish in present times, following centuries at consistent and higher trophic levels of Atlantic cod. This results in a concurrent converging trophic niche of the demersal fish. We suggest that the current data set provides a valuable historical baseline facilitating interpretation of current variability in the trophic ecology of northern demersal fish.
Stable isotope analyses of zooarchaeological material can be used to examine ecological variability in exploited species at centennial to millennial scales. Climate change is a notable driver of marine ecosystem change, although historical fishing is also likely to have impacted past marine systems. Fishing removes the oldest and largest individuals and may thereby result in shorter trophic pathways and reduced niche width of predatory fish species. In the current study we examine the trophic niche of Atlantic cod, n class="Species">haddock and Atlantic wolffish, in the last millennium using δ13C and δ15N values of bone collagen. We report a lower trophic level of Atlantic cod and haddock but higher level of wolffish in present times, following centuries at consistent and higher trophic levels of Atlantic cod. This results in a concurrent converging trophic niche of the demersal fish. We suggest that the current data set provides a valuable historical baseline facilitating interpretation of current variability in the trophic ecology of northern demersal fish.
Authors: Heike K Lotze; Hunter S Lenihan; Bruce J Bourque; Roger H Bradbury; Richard G Cooke; Matthew C Kay; Susan M Kidwell; Michael X Kirby; Charles H Peterson; Jeremy B C Jackson Journal: Science Date: 2006-06-23 Impact factor: 47.728
Authors: William P Patterson; Kristin A Dietrich; Chris Holmden; John T Andrews Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2010-03-08 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Iain McKechnie; Dana Lepofsky; Madonna L Moss; Virginia L Butler; Trevor J Orchard; Gary Coupland; Fredrick Foster; Megan Caldwell; Ken Lertzman Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2014-02-18 Impact factor: 11.205