
doi: 10.3390/w12123475
handle: 20.500.14243/420764 , 20.500.14243/399501
In the last century, Italian freshwater ecosystems have been invaded by several non-native fish species. In the subalpine Lake Mergozzo (northern Italy), several recently introduced non-native species dramatically expanded their populations. We used carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes to describe the isotopic niches and trophic positions of native and non-native fish species in Lake Mergozzo. We evaluated their trophic niches, trophic diversity, trophic redundancy and trophic evenness utilizing isotopic niche metrics, and estimated asymmetrical niche overlaps. The trophic traits of non-native fish species and Perca fluviatilis clearly define them as trophic generalists, in terms of among-individual variability of their isotopic niches. The historical increase in abundance of fish non-native species in this lake, their dominance by numbers and biomass within the assemblage, and their broad asymmetrical niche overlaps suggest that their higher degree of trophic generalism might have been one of the key factors that have promoted the invasion of the recipient community.
Biological invasions; Deep lakes; Food webs; Invasive species; Isotopic niche; PASE electrofishing; Protected areas; Stable isotopes, biological invasions, stable isotopes, Biodiversity, PASE electrofishing, isotopic niche, invasive species, deep lakes, food webs, protected areas, biodiversity
Biological invasions; Deep lakes; Food webs; Invasive species; Isotopic niche; PASE electrofishing; Protected areas; Stable isotopes, biological invasions, stable isotopes, Biodiversity, PASE electrofishing, isotopic niche, invasive species, deep lakes, food webs, protected areas, biodiversity
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