KUKU

KU ScholarWorks

  • myKU
  • Email
  • Enroll & Pay
  • KU Directory
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Theses
    • View Item
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Theses
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Basal Carbon Sources Supporting Fish Food Webs in Terminal Basin Rivers

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Arsenault_ku_0099M_15457_DATA_1.pdf (849.3Kb)
    Issue Date
    2017-08-31
    Author
    Arsenault, Emily Rae
    Publisher
    University of Kansas
    Format
    61 pages
    Type
    Thesis
    Degree Level
    M.A.
    Discipline
    Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
    Rights
    Copyright held by the author.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Terminal basin rivers—those with no outlets to the sea—are unique systems that have been traditionally under-studied despite their widespread occurrence in drier regions of the world. The goal of this study was to elucidate the contributions of terminal basin rivers to broader concepts in lotic ecology using the contrasting frameworks of the River Continuum Concept (RCC) and the Riverine Ecosystem Synthesis (RES). Study sites were chosen for two rivers of the Great Basin, USA, according to coarse-scale hydrogeomorphic variables and included constricted-valley uplands, constricted-valley lowlands, wide-valley uplands, and wide-valley lowlands. Using amino acid, compound specific stable isotope analysis of amino acids (AA-CSIA) of carbon (C), we determined isotopic signatures for fish consumers and their potential food sources. AA-CSIA values for essential and conditionally essential amino acids were used as dietary tracers to estimate the proportional contribution of four different food groups: autochthonous resources (cyanobacteria and green algae), fungi, C3 plants, and C4/CAM plants to consumer basal diets using a Bayesian mixing model. Results suggest that consumer tissue of fish from all sites, regardless of site position along the river network, valley hydrogeomorphology, riparian vegetation, or fish species, was primarily derived from autochthonous C, with an average proportional contribution of 79.9±3.1%. This finding lends some support to the RES, in that over the entire river network, 50% of metazoan production was supported by autochthonous resources; however, there was no significant effect of hydrogeomorphology on the types of food sources assimilated. Additionally, we found no effect of site position to support the RCC. Future studies might gather additional data in different river systems.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1808/25989
    Collections
    • Theses [3710]

    Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.


    We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.


    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    Browse

    All of KU ScholarWorksCommunities & CollectionsThis Collection

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    The University of Kansas
      Contact KU ScholarWorks
    Lawrence, KS | Maps
     
    • Academics
    • Admission
    • Alumni
    • Athletics
    • Campuses
    • Giving
    • Jobs

    The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.

     Contact KU
    Lawrence, KS | Maps