Inter-tissue variability in the stable isotope values of European perch (Perca fluviatilis) and pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus)

Abstract

Ecological studies on native and invasive populations of European perch Perca fluviatilis and pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus are often based on stable isotope (SI) analysis based on dorsal muscle, where samples are usually taken from sacrificed fishes. However, other tissues, such as scale and fin tissue, can be used as non-lethal alternatives, where their SI values can be standardised to dorsal muscle values for comparative purposes. In both perch and pumpkinseed, there was a pattern of δ13C enrichment and δ15N depletion from muscle to fin and scale. As comparative studies must account for these inter-tissue differences prior to analyses, conversion equations for SI data from scale and fin tissue to standardised muscle values are provided.

Keywords

• trophic ecology
• diet
• fish
• non-lethal sampling
• δ13c
• δ15n