Introduction of Mysis relicta (Mysida) reduces niche segregation between deep-water Arctic charr morphs

Abstract

Niche diversification of polymorphic Arctic charr can be altered by multiple anthropogenic stressors. The opossum-shrimp (<i>Mysis relicta</i>) was introduced to compensate for reduced food resources for fish following hydropower operations in Lake Limingen, central Norway. Based on habitat use, stomach contents, stable isotopes (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) and trophically transmitted parasites, the zooplanktivorous upper water-column dwelling ‘normal’ morph was clearly trophically separated from two sympatric deep-water morphs (the ‘dwarf’ and the ‘grey’) that became more abundant with depth (> 30 m). Mysis dominated (50–60%) charr diets in deeper waters (> 30 m), irrespective of morph. <i>Mysis</i> and/or zooplankton prey groups caused high dietary overlap (> 54%) between the ‘dwarf’ morph and the two other ‘normal’ and ‘grey’ morphs. After excluding <i>Mysis</i>, the dietary overlap dropped to 34% between the two profundal morphs, as the ‘dwarf’ fed largely on deep-water zoobenthos (39%), while the ‘grey’ morph fed on fish (59%). The time-integrated trophic niche tracers (trophically transmitted parasites and stable isotopes) demonstrated only partial dietary segregation between the two deep-water morphs. The high importance of <i>Mysis</i> in Arctic charr diets may have reduced the ancestral niche segregation between the deep-water morphs and thereby increased their resource competition and potential risk of hybridization.