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Sex-based divergence in isotopic compositions of north temperate freshwater fishes

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Abstract

Differences in reproductive allocation of male and female fishes could lead to sexual divergence in nutritional requirements, trophic ecologies, and metabolisms that may be reflected in isotopic compositions. We compared muscle C:N ratio, δ13C, and δ15N between mature females and males for eight fish species from 21 North American populations. We also compared isotopic compositions between muscle and ova in a subset of females to determine if observed sex differences may be associated with fractionation during oogenesis. Muscle δ13C and δ15N did not vary greatly between males and females for most species but significant differences were observed in walleye (Sander vitreus) and burbot (Lota lota). Among-individual variation in isotopic composition, estimated as dispersion in δ13C–δ15N space, did not differ significantly between the sexes. Ova had significantly higher C:N ratio and lower δ13C than female muscle in all species with the greatest contrast between tissues seen in burbot. Ova had significantly higher δ15N than female muscle in most species with the greatest contrast between tissues in walleye. Sex-based divergence in isotopic composition of northern fishes is most evident in lean-fleshed piscivores, and may be related to selective mobilization of nutrients from soma to ovaries.

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The datasets generated by and analysed for the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

Financial and in-kind supports were provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Strategic Grants and Discovery Grants Programs, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Field and laboratory support were provided by Lee Haslam, Tom Herra, Matthew Moles, Micale Prévost, Patricia Woloshyn, and Diana Wong. Constructive criticisms on earlier drafts of this manuscript were provided by Bob Montgomerie, Bethany Bethke, and one anonymous reviewer.

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  1. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2C6, Canada

    T. A. Johnston

  2. Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada

    J. M. Casselman & W. C. Leggett

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TAJ, JMC, and WCL designed the study; TAJ led data collection and analysis; TAJ, JMC, and WCL wrote the manuscript.

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Johnston, T.A., Casselman, J.M. & Leggett, W.C. Sex-based divergence in isotopic compositions of north temperate freshwater fishes. Hydrobiologia 848, 873–884 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-04496-4

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