Salmon-derived nitrogen in terrestrial invertebrates from coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest

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dc.contributor.authorHocking, Morgan D.
dc.contributor.authorReimchen, Thomas E.
dc.date.accessioned2013-11-27T21:54:03Z
dc.date.available2013-11-27T21:54:03Z
dc.date.copyright2002en_US
dc.date.issued2002-03-19
dc.descriptionBioMed Centralen_US
dc.description.abstractBackground: Bi-directional flow of nutrients between marine and terrestrial ecosystems can provide essential resources that structure communities in transitional habitats. On the Pacific coast of North America, anadromous salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) constitute a dominant nutrient subsidy to aquatic habitats and riparian vegetation, although the contribution to terrestrial habitats is not well established. We use a dual isotope approach of δ15N and δ13C to test for the contribution of salmon nutrients to multiple trophic levels of litter-based terrestrial invertebrates below and above waterfalls that act as a barrier to salmon migration on two watersheds in coastal British Columbia. Results: Invertebrates varied predictably in δ15N with enrichment of 3–8‰ below the falls compared with above the falls in all trophic groups on both watersheds. We observed increasing δ15N levels in our invertebrate groups with increasing consumption of dietary protein. Invertebrates varied in δ13C but did not always vary predictably with trophic level or habitat. From 19.4 to 71.5% of invertebrate total nitrogen was originally derived from salmon depending on taxa, watershed, and degree of fractionation from the source. Conclusions: Enrichment of δ15N in the invertebrate community below the falls in conjunction with the absence of δ13C enrichment suggests that enrichment in δ15N occurs primarily through salmon-derived nitrogen subsidies to litter, soil and vegetation N pools rather than from direct consumption of salmon tissue or salmon tissue consumers. Salmon nutrient subsidies to terrestrial habitats may result in shifts in invertebrate community structure, with subsequent implications for higher vertebrate consumers, particularly the passerines.en_US
dc.description.reviewstatusRevieweden_US
dc.description.scholarlevelFacultyen_US
dc.identifier.citationHocking MD, Reimchen TE: Salmon-derived nitrogen in terrestrial invertebrates from coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest. BMC Ecology 2002, 2:1-14en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6785/2/4
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1828/5039
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherBioMed Centralen_US
dc.titleSalmon-derived nitrogen in terrestrial invertebrates from coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwesten_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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