Food web structure and resource use by fish in the upper part of the Vltava river, Czech Republic
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11310%2F25%3A10507437" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11310/25:10507437 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=v_IU-Tb306" target="_blank" >https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=v_IU-Tb306</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.14712/23361964.2025.7" target="_blank" >10.14712/23361964.2025.7</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Food web structure and resource use by fish in the upper part of the Vltava river, Czech Republic
Original language description
Understanding trophic niche structure is essential for describing the organization and functioning of fish communities in river ecosystems. Stable isotope analysis of carbon (δ(13)C) and nitrogen (δ(15)N) was used to characterize trophic niches and food web structure of eight species of fish inhabiting the upper reaches of the Vltava river (Czech Republic). Eight species were analysed together with six categories of food resources. The isotopic composition of muscle tissue and basal food resources was measured using a Delta V mass spectrometer, and trophic metrics were calculated using Stable Isotope Bayesian Ellipses in R (SIBER) and MixSIAR models. Results revealed distinct isotopic separation among species, indicating variation in resource use and trophic position. The highest δ(15)N enrichment and thus the highest trophic position within the community were recorded for dace Leuciscus leuciscus, which is likely to be because it mainly feeds on terrestrial invertebrates. In contrast, nase, Chondrostoma nasus occupied the lowest trophic level and was the most enriched in δ(13)C, due to feeding on periphyton and sediment-associated organic matter. Chub (Squalius cephalus), roach (Rutilus rutilus) and bleak (Alburnus alburnus) occupy broad isotopic niches. Species with more specific habitat requirements, such as barbel (Barbus barbus) and bullhead (Cottus gobio), had narrower trophic niches, reflecting their feeding specialization on aquatic invertebrates. This study highlights the value of stable isotopes for understanding community trophic structure and supports their use in riverine ecosystem management and river community ecology.
Czech name
—
Czech description
—
Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
—
OECD FORD branch
10511 - Environmental sciences (social aspects to be 5.7)
Result continuities
Project
<a href="/en/project/QL25020052" target="_blank" >QL25020052: Assessment of biodiversity, population status and management in non-salmonid fishing grounds</a><br>
Continuities
P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
European Journal of Environmental Sciences
ISSN
1805-0174
e-ISSN
2336-1964
Volume of the periodical
15
Issue of the periodical within the volume
2
Country of publishing house
CZ - CZECH REPUBLIC
Number of pages
6
Pages from-to
57-62
UT code for WoS article
001667445700001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-105026272325