Spatial and temporal variation in food web structure of an impounded river in Anatolia
Nehir Kaymak A G , Kirk O. Winemiller B , Senol Akin C , Zekeriya Altuner D , Fatih Polat E and Tarik Dal F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Akdeniz University, Dumlupınar Boulevard, Campus, TR-07058 Antalya, Turkey.
B Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, 400 Bizzell Street, College Station, TX 77843-2258, USA.
C Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Fisheries, Bozok University, Atatürk Street kilometre 7, TR-66900 Yozgat, Turkey.
D Faculty of Art and Science, Department of Biology, Gaziosmanpasa University, Taşlıçiftlik Campus, TR-60240 Tokat, Turkey.
E Almus Vocational School, Department of Environmental Protection and Control, Gaziosmanpasa University, Çevreli Avenue, Almus, TR-60900 Tokat, Turkey.
F Almus Vocational School, Department of Aquaculture, Gaziosmanpasa University, Çevreli Avenue, Almus, TR-60900 Tokat, Turkey.
G Corresponding author. Email: nehirbozkurt@hotmail.com
Marine and Freshwater Research 69(9) 1453-1471 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF17270
Submitted: 20 December 2016 Accepted: 6 February 2018 Published: 4 June 2018
Abstract
Dams interrupt the longitudinal connectivity of rivers by impeding the movement of water, sediments and organisms, which, in turn, could affect aquatic biodiversity and food web ecology. Using stable isotope analysis, we examined spatiotemporal variation in food web structure at four sites in the upper Yeşilırmak River, Anatolia Peninsula, Turkey, in relation to environmental parameters and a dam. It was apparent that the dam created discontinuity in the longitudinal fluvial gradient of fish species richness, with more species observed at upstream sites. Fish assemblages from different sites and seasons occupied distinct areas of isotopic space. Isotopic niche space, trophic diversity, variation in δ13C of basal resources and assemblage redundancy were all higher for the fish assemblage at the site downstream from the dam compared with the site above the dam, a possible indication of greater interspecific dietary variation. Food chain length (the range in δ15N) was lower at the downstream site, possibly resulting from a greater tendency towards omnivory. The findings strongly suggest that the dam affects not only environmental conditions and fish diversity, but also trophic ecology. The results of the present study emphasise the need for research to assess potential effects of new dams in Anatolia on aquatic communities and ecosystem dynamics in rivers.
Additional keywords: Bayesian mixing model, Cyprinidae, fish assemblage, hydroelectric dam, isospace, stable isotope, trophic ecology.
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