Temporal variation in the niche partitioning of Lake Michigan salmonines as it relates to alewife abundance and size structure

Stable isotope analyses offer a useful means for quantifying ecological niche dimensions, though few studies have examined isotopic response of an community with respect to resource gradients such as fluctuations in prey availability. carbon and nitrogen isotopes were measured Lake Michigan salmonines their collected from 2014 2016. Bayesian ellipse mixing model used quantify characteristics diets, respectively, among species years. During the 3-year study period, abundance size structure preferred alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) changed substantially offered opportunity explore predator diet shifts along gradient. Results suggested increased reliance on alewives, especially small over period consistent greater availability this prey. However, differential use classes alternative sources by salmonine predators was apparent, which possible partitioning. Characterization overlap using stable likely requires consideration shared well specific habitat preferences.