Selbie, Daniel T.;
Finney, Bruce P.;
Barto, David;
Bunting, Lynda;
Chen, Guangjie;
Leavitt, Peter R.;
Maclsaac, Erland A.;
Schindler, Daniel E.;
Shapley, Mark D.;
Gregory-Eaves, Irene
Ecological, Landscape, and Climatic Regulation of Sediment Geochemistry in North American Sockeye Salmon Nursery Lakes: Insights for Paleoecological Salmon Investigations
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Media type:
E-Article
Title:
Ecological, Landscape, and Climatic Regulation of Sediment Geochemistry in North American Sockeye Salmon Nursery Lakes: Insights for Paleoecological Salmon Investigations
Contributor:
Selbie, Daniel T.;
Finney, Bruce P.;
Barto, David;
Bunting, Lynda;
Chen, Guangjie;
Leavitt, Peter R.;
Maclsaac, Erland A.;
Schindler, Daniel E.;
Shapley, Mark D.;
Gregory-Eaves, Irene
Published:
American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, 2009
Published in:
Limnology and Oceanography, 54 (2009) 5, Seite 1733-1745
Language:
English
DOI:
10.4319/lo.2009.54.5.1733
ISSN:
0024-3590;
1939-5590
Origination:
Footnote:
Description:
We used multiple linear regressions across a Northeast Pacific region 56-lake set to examine the influence of sockeye salmon spawner densities and limnological, climatic, and watershed characteristics on sediment stable nitrogen isotope (δ¹⁵N) and C: N signatures, geochemical proxies used in paleolimnological reconstructions of prehistoric salmon abundances. Across all sites (n = 56), sedimentary C:N was primarily related to variables reflecting allochthonous organic matter and nutrient fluxes, with 67% of the variance explained by watershed vegetation type, watershed area, mean slope, and salmon spawner densities. In a subset of sites with nutrient data (n = 41), 63% of variance in C:N was explained by precipitation and watershed vegetation type. Sediment δ¹⁵N was most strongly related to salmon spawner densities, but C: N and watershed area: lake area ratios explained significant residual variance (total 55%). In sites with nutrient data, salmon spawner densities, vegetation type, and spring nitrate explained 62% of the variance in δ¹⁵N. Sediment C: N and δ¹⁵N values exhibited distinct interregional variation, typically varying inversely. Regional δ¹⁵N-salmon density relationships (regression slopes) varied strongly with total annual precipitation (r²=0.89, p=0.016, n=5), suggesting watershed organic matter and nutrient loading vary predictably in relation to regional biogeoclimatic conditions. Our findings demonstrate that paleolimnological analyses are useful for quantitative reconstruction of past salmon densities; however, inferences regarding past salmon populations must consider the factors regulating influxes of nitrogen from watershed sources.