title: A hypothesis-testing framework for studies investigating ontogenetic niche shifts using stable isotope ratios.
abstract: Ontogenetic niche shifts occur across diverse taxonomic groups, and can have critical implications for population dynamics, community structure, and ecosystem function. In this study, we provide a hypothesis-testing framework combining univariate and multivariate analyses to examine ontogenetic niche shifts using stable isotope ratios. This framework is based on three distinct ontogenetic niche shift scenarios, i.e., (1) no niche shift, (2) niche expansion/reduction, and (3) discrete niche shift between size classes. We developed criteria for identifying each scenario, as based on three important resource use characteristics, i.e., niche width, niche position, and niche overlap. We provide an empirical example for each ontogenetic niche shift scenario, illustrating differences in resource use characteristics among different organisms. The present framework provides a foundation for future studies on ontogenetic niche shifts, and also can be applied to examine resource variability among other population sub-groupings (e.g., by sex or phenotype).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Marine Sciences Program, Florida International University, North Miami, Florida, United States of America. cpeye001@fiu.edu
authors.forename: Caroline M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hammerschlag-Peyer
authors.forename: Lauren A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Yeager
authors.forename: Márcio S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Layman
mesh_terms: D017753:Ecosystem; D007554:Isotopes
chemical_list: D007554:Isotopes
references.citation: Ecol Appl. 2006 Feb;16(1):5-19
references.pmid: 16705957
references.citation: Ecology. 2009 Aug;90(8):2263-74
references.pmid: 19739388
references.citation: J Econ Entomol. 1986 Oct;79(5):1156-60
references.pmid: 3771906
references.citation: Am Nat. 2003 Jan;161(1):1-28
references.pmid: 12650459
references.citation: Oecologia. 1980 Jan;47(2):233-238
references.pmid: 28309477
references.citation: Ecology. 2010 Aug;91(8):2227-33
references.pmid: 20836444
references.citation: Ecol Lett. 2007 Oct;10(10):937-44
references.pmid: 17845294
references.citation: Oecologia. 2007 May;152(1):179-89
references.pmid: 17225157
references.citation: J Anim Ecol. 2009 Jul;78(4):848-56
references.pmid: 19486381
references.citation: Annu Rev Entomol. 2001;46:703-27
references.pmid: 11112184
references.citation: J Anim Ecol. 2011 May;80(3):595-602
references.pmid: 21401589
references.citation: Oecologia. 2007 Jul;152(4):643-54
references.pmid: 17356809
references.citation: PLoS One. 2009 Jul 09;4(7):e6187
references.pmid: 19587790
references.citation: Trends Ecol Evol. 2011 Apr;26(4):183-92
references.pmid: 21367482
references.citation: Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc. 2012 Aug;87(3):545-62
references.pmid: 22051097
references.citation: Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol. 2006 Oct;145(2):158-65
references.pmid: 16905348
references.citation: Ecology. 2007 Jan;88(1):42-8
references.pmid: 17489452