Indigenous sea gardens within the Pacific Northwest generate partial trophic niche and dietary fatty acid shifts in littleneck clams ( Leukoma staminea )

Pacific Northwest Indigenous communities historically managed terrestrial and marine environments to increase the productivity access of traditional foods. Sea gardens, also called clam were an aquaculture method that increased food habitat for targeted species such as bivalves. This study utilized fatty acid biomarker analysis alongside stable isotopic with bivalve condition indices traditionally harvested littleneck clams (Leukoma staminea) investigate dietary trophic differences between sea gardens non-walled beaches in Kanish Bay, Quadra Island, British Columbia. We non-metric multidimensional scaling, distance-based redundancy (db-RDA), Bayesian three-source mixing models examine impacts environmental drivers on composition at four garden sites sites. Bivalve tissue saturated acids (sum SFAs) showed statistical significance (Mann-Whitney U-Test, W = 3447, P ≤ 0.01), indicating (x̅ 34.96; SD 7.56) had higher mean relative percent areas SFAs compared 31.76; 7.71). monounsaturated (MUFAs) 1202, 0.01, a 0.05), 3.48; 3.78) lower MUFAs those 6.97; 5.90). bivalves found feed level, slimmer range, clams. Both marker differentiated positioning suggest decreased physiological stressors impacting feeding bivalves, particulate intake, or combination both occurring Correlations within db-RDA indicate high body benefiting from stress related favorable salinity oxygen parameters, which positively impacted respiration. Observed niche would be explained by this suggested mechanism. conclude partial shifts changes L. staminea are consistent stress-alleviated responses, match correlated variables our db-RDA. Trophic should further explored using quantitative identify addition established field verification methods.