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Between-lake variation in the elemental composition of roach (Rutilus rutilus L.)

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Abstract

Stoichiometry theory states that the elemental composition of individual organisms is a taxon-dependent trait, and that organisms maintain relatively constant body nutrient composition, independent of food nutrient content or ingestion rate. Some recent studies have pointed out that assuming a strict homeostasis in fish is an over-simplification, so that nutrient ratios in fish bodies may not be as constant as previously thought. In this study, our aims were (a) to assess the overall nutrient composition of roach, (b) to reveal any significant differences in elemental composition of roach between populations from different lakes and (c) to relate these potential differences to environmental parameters and fish condition. The mean elemental composition of roach (whole fish) was 45.0 ± 5.3 % carbon (C), 10.2 ± 0.8 % nitrogen (N), and 2.4 ± 0.5 % phosphorus (P), while their molar C/N/P ratio was approximately 50:10:1. The elemental composition of roach was not as constant as homeostatic stoichiometry models would predict. Significant differences were found in the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus contents of fish sampled from different lakes. Productivity of lakes (expressed as chlorophyll-a) was positively correlated with  %C, C/N, C/P, and N/P ratios, and negatively correlated with  %N and  %P. In turn, mean lake temperature was negatively correlated with  %C and C/N ratio, but not with other nutrients or nutrient ratios. Condition factor was negatively related to the  %C of fish, but it did not correlate significantly with  %N,  %P, or nutrient ratios. Our results on intraspecific nutrient variation illustrate the potential differences between populations and emphasize the importance of lake-specific approaches.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the support of the University of Jyväskylä (Finland), the EU REFRESH project, the Danish Lake Restoration Centre-CLEAR (a Villum Kann Rasmussen Centre of Excellence project), and the Hungarian National Research Fund (OTKA-T048758). Research was conducted in international collaboration, supported by the FUNCDYN program of the European Science Foundation. Data for Lake Tisza were provided by Middle-Tisza District Environment and Water Management Authority. Special thanks to Michael J. Vanni and the members of his lab, for their help in improving this paper. The authors are grateful for the helpful comments of the reviewers and the contribution of all researchers, technicians, and students who took part in this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Balaton Limnological Institute, Centre for Ecological Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 35, Tihany, Hungary

    Gergely Boros, Péter Takács & István Tátrai

  2. Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Jussi Jyväsjärvi & Roger I. Jones

  3. Department of Hydrobiology, University of Debrecen, P. O. Box 57, Debrecen, Hungary

    Attila Mozsár

  4. Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, P. O. Box 314, Silkeborg, Denmark

    Martin Søndergaard

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  1. Gergely Boros
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  2. Jussi Jyväsjärvi
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  3. Péter Takács
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  4. Attila Mozsár
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  5. István Tátrai
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  6. Martin Søndergaard
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  7. Roger I. Jones
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Correspondence to Gergely Boros.

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This paper is dedicated to the memory of István Tátrai, a great researcher and friend, who passed away before publication.

Handling Editor: Thomas Mehner.

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Boros, G., Jyväsjärvi, J., Takács, P. et al. Between-lake variation in the elemental composition of roach (Rutilus rutilus L.). Aquat Ecol 46, 385–394 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-012-9402-3

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