title: Individual isotopic specializations predict subsequent inter-individual variation in movement in a freshwater fish.
abstract: Despite many similarities and intuitive links between individual dietary specialization and behavioral inter-individual variation, these phenomena have been studied in isolation, and empirical data confirming relationships between these intraspecific variance sources are lacking. Here we use stable isotope analysis and acoustic telemetry to test the hypothesis that individual specialization in trophic (δ15N) and littoral/pelagic prey reliance (δ13C) covary with inter-individual variation in movement in a group of 34 free-swimming burbot (Lota lota). By performing stable isotope analysis on tissues with differing isotopic turnover rates (anal fin and dorsal muscle), in 24 lethally sampled burbot, we demonstrate that individual specialization in trophic niche (δ15N) and littoral/pelagic prey reliance (δ13C) occurred within the population. By performing stable isotope analysis on anal fins of a group of telemetry tagged burbot, we were able to show that interactions between trophic niche and littoral/pelagic prey reliance, explained a significant proportion of the subsequent between-individual variance in mean movement rates. These findings demonstrate an empirical connection between behavioral inter-individual variation and dietary specialization, thus providing a substantial expansion of our understanding of the wider ecological consequences of these interesting phenomena.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada.|Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada.|Aquatic Resource and Monitoring Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, Ontario, K9L1Z8, Canada.
authors.forename: L F G
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Gutowsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada.
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.affiliation: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Cooperative Research Management Institute, Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Power
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004463:Ecology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D005618:Fresh Water; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D011235:Predatory Behavior
chemical_list: D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes
keywords: Lota lota; animal personality; burbot; individual differences; individual specialization; intraspecific variation isotope ecology; spatial ecology; telemetry