Fitness consequences of individual specialisation in resource use and trophic morphology in European eels

Authors: Cucherousset, J., Acou, A., Blanchet, S., Britton, J.R., Beaumont, W.R.C. and Gozlan, R.E.

Journal: Oecologia

Volume: 167

Issue: 1

Pages: 75-84

ISSN: 0029-8549

DOI: 10.1007/s00442-011-1974-4

Abstract:

Individual specialisation can lead to the exploitation of different trophic and habitat resources and the production of morphological variability within a population. Although the ecological causes of this phenomenon are relatively well known, its consequences on individual fitness are less recognised. We have investigated the extent of individual specialisation in resource use and trophic morphology and its fitness consequences through a combination of tagging-recapture, stable isotope analyses and telemetry. The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) was the model species as it displays significant variability in head shape. Independent to their body length, individuals with broader heads displayed a significantly higher trophic position (δ 15N) than individuals with narrower heads. This corresponded with a significantly higher proportion of prey fish in their diet compared with invertebrates and was associated with the use of a habitat niche located further from the river bank. The European eel therefore provides a rare empirical example of individual specialisation in resource use and trophic morphology in a natural population occurring at a very small spatial scale. Individuals with intermediate head morphology displayed lower body condition (a proxy of fitness) than individuals with extreme head morphology (i. e. narrower and broader headed individuals), demonstrating the existence of disruptive selection associated with individual specialisation. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.

Source: Scopus

Fitness consequences of individual specialisation in resource use and trophic morphology in European eels.

Authors: Cucherousset, J., Acou, A., Blanchet, S., Britton, J.R., Beaumont, W.R.C. and Gozlan, R.E.

Journal: Oecologia

Volume: 167

Issue: 1

Pages: 75-84

eISSN: 1432-1939

DOI: 10.1007/s00442-011-1974-4

Abstract:

Individual specialisation can lead to the exploitation of different trophic and habitat resources and the production of morphological variability within a population. Although the ecological causes of this phenomenon are relatively well known, its consequences on individual fitness are less recognised. We have investigated the extent of individual specialisation in resource use and trophic morphology and its fitness consequences through a combination of tagging-recapture, stable isotope analyses and telemetry. The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) was the model species as it displays significant variability in head shape. Independent to their body length, individuals with broader heads displayed a significantly higher trophic position (δ(15)N) than individuals with narrower heads. This corresponded with a significantly higher proportion of prey fish in their diet compared with invertebrates and was associated with the use of a habitat niche located further from the river bank. The European eel therefore provides a rare empirical example of individual specialisation in resource use and trophic morphology in a natural population occurring at a very small spatial scale. Individuals with intermediate head morphology displayed lower body condition (a proxy of fitness) than individuals with extreme head morphology (i.e. narrower and broader headed individuals), demonstrating the existence of disruptive selection associated with individual specialisation.

Source: PubMed

Fitness consequences of individual specialisation in resource use and trophic morphology in European eels

Authors: Cucherousset, J., Acou, A., Blanchet, S., Britton, J.R., Beaumont, W.R.C. and Gozlan, R.E.

Journal: OECOLOGIA

Volume: 167

Issue: 1

Pages: 75-84

eISSN: 1432-1939

ISSN: 0029-8549

DOI: 10.1007/s00442-011-1974-4

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

Fitness consequences of individual specialisation in resource use and trophic morphology in European eels

Authors: Cucherousset, J., Acou, A., Blanchet, S., Britton, J.R., Beaumont, W.R.C. and Gozlan, R.E.

Journal: Oecologia

ISSN: 0029-8549

DOI: 10.1007/s00442-011-1974-4

Source: Manual

Preferred by: Robert Britton

Fitness consequences of individual specialisation in resource use and trophic morphology in European eels.

Authors: Cucherousset, J., Acou, A., Blanchet, S., Britton, J.R., Beaumont, W.R.C. and Gozlan, R.E.

Journal: Oecologia

Volume: 167

Issue: 1

Pages: 75-84

eISSN: 1432-1939

ISSN: 0029-8549

DOI: 10.1007/s00442-011-1974-4

Abstract:

Individual specialisation can lead to the exploitation of different trophic and habitat resources and the production of morphological variability within a population. Although the ecological causes of this phenomenon are relatively well known, its consequences on individual fitness are less recognised. We have investigated the extent of individual specialisation in resource use and trophic morphology and its fitness consequences through a combination of tagging-recapture, stable isotope analyses and telemetry. The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) was the model species as it displays significant variability in head shape. Independent to their body length, individuals with broader heads displayed a significantly higher trophic position (δ(15)N) than individuals with narrower heads. This corresponded with a significantly higher proportion of prey fish in their diet compared with invertebrates and was associated with the use of a habitat niche located further from the river bank. The European eel therefore provides a rare empirical example of individual specialisation in resource use and trophic morphology in a natural population occurring at a very small spatial scale. Individuals with intermediate head morphology displayed lower body condition (a proxy of fitness) than individuals with extreme head morphology (i.e. narrower and broader headed individuals), demonstrating the existence of disruptive selection associated with individual specialisation.

Source: Europe PubMed Central