Whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) respiration rate governs intra-otolith variation of 13C values in Lake Annecy

• Published in: Canadian journal of fisheries and aquatic sciences Vol. 64; no. 12; pp. 1736 - 1746
• Main Authors: Dufour, E, Gerdeaux, D, Wurster, C M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2007
• Subjects: Coregonus lavaretus; Freshwater; France, Rhone-Alpes, Annecy L
• ISSN: 0706-652X; 1205-7533

We generated 10 high-resolution profiles of stable carbon and oxygen isotope values (13Coto and 18Ooto) of sagittal otoliths of whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) from Lake Annecy (France) to determine the factors that control intra-individual 13Coto variation. Dominant patterns of intra-otolith variation compared well with seasonal and age-specific respiration modeling. Conversely, intra-otolith variation of 13C values did not compare well with measured dietary and environmental variation. We infer that the proportion of metabolically sourced carbon (M) is the dominant control on intra-otolith variation. Current models of otolith carbon incorporation provide different estimates of M. Once appropriate fractionation factors among otolith, endolymph, blood, and carbon sources are elucidated, 13Coto values will reveal energetic, environmental, and dietary information of teleost fish for past and present populations. Used in conjunction with 18Ooto values, 13Coto values will be powerful proxies of fish environment, behavior, and evolution.