Using natural strontium isotopic signatures as fish markers: methodology and application

2000 ◽  
Vol 57 (11) ◽  
pp. 2280-2292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian P Kennedy ◽  
Joel D Blum ◽  
Carol L Folt ◽  
Keith H Nislow
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Fish Tissue ◽  
Isotopic Signature ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Sr Isotopes ◽  
Connecticut River ◽  
Isotopic Signatures ◽  
Calcified Tissues

To distinguish Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations in tributaries of the Connecticut River, we studied the incorporation and stability of Sr isotopes in juvenile salmon. We established the geologic basis for unique isotopic signatures in 29 salmon sites. Stream-specific Sr isotopic ratios (87Sr/86Sr) were found in calcified tissues of salmon parr within 3 months of stocking. We found little seasonal variation in the Sr signatures of stream water or fish tissue. There were no significant differences among the Sr signatures of otoliths, scales, and vertebrae. For mature salmon raised under constant conditions, 70% of the Sr isotopic signature in calcified tissues was derived from food sources. We developed a criterion for identifying moving fish based upon the isotopic variability of genetically marked fish. Applying this criterion to our streams, 7% of the fish in our study had incorporated Sr from multiple streams. Strontium isotopes distinguished all 8 regions in the White River basin and 7 of the 10 regions in the West River basin. When watersheds are considered together, Sr isotopes differentiated 11 unique signatures from 18 regions. We conclude that Sr isotopes are an effective marking tool and discuss ways in which they can be combined with other marking techniques over larger spatial scales.

scholarly journals Using stable isotope tracers to assess hydrological flow paths, residence times and landscape influences in a nested mesoscale catchment

2005 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 139-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Rodgers ◽  
C. Soulsby ◽  
S. Waldron ◽  
D. Tetzlaff
Keyword(s):  
Stream Water ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Isotopic Signature ◽  
Residence Times ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Valley Bottom ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Isotope Tracers ◽  
Periodic Regression ◽  
Stream Waters

Abstract. δ18O measurements in precipitation and stream waters were used to investigate hydrological flow paths and residence times at nested spatial scales in the mesoscale (233 km2) River Feugh catchment in the northeast of Scotland over the 2001-2002 hydrological year. Precipitation δ18O exhibited strong seasonal variation, which although significantly damped within the catchment, was reflected in stream water at six sampling sites. This allowed δ18O variations to be used to infer the relative influence of soil-derived storm flows with a seasonally variable isotopic signature, and groundwater of apparently more constant isotopic composition. Periodic regression analysis was then used to examine the sub-catchment difference using an exponential flow model to provide indicative estimates of mean stream water residence times, which varied between approximately 3 and 14 months. This showed that the effects of increasing scale on estimated mean stream water residence time was minimal beyond that of the smallest (ca. 1 km2) headwater catchment scale. Instead, the interaction of catchment soil cover and topography appeared to be the dominant controlling influence. Where sub-catchments had extensive peat coverage, responsive hydrological pathways produced seasonally variable δ18O signatures in runoff with short mean residence times (ca. 3 months). In contrast, areas dominated by steeper slopes, more freely draining soils and larger groundwater storage in shallow valley-bottom aquifers, deeper flow paths allow for more effective mixing and damping of δ18O indicating longer residence times (>12 months). These insights from δ18O measurements extend the hydrological understanding of the Feugh catchment gained from previous geochemical tracer studies, and demonstrate the utility of isotope tracers in investigating the interaction of hydrological processes and catchment characteristics at larger spatial scales.

scholarly journals Using stable isotope tracers to identify hydrological flow paths, residence times and landscape controls in a mesoscale catchment

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Rodgers ◽  
C. Soulsby ◽  
S. Waldron ◽  
D. Tetzlaff
Keyword(s):  
Stream Water ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Isotopic Signature ◽  
Residence Times ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Mixing Processes ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Isotope Tracers ◽  
Periodic Regression ◽  
Stream Waters

Abstract. δ18O tracer measurements of precipitation and stream waters were used to investigate hydrological flow paths and residence times at nested spatial scales in the mesoscale (233 km2 River Feugh catchment in the northeast of Scotland over the 2001-2002 hydrological year. Precipitation δ18O exhibited strong seasonal variation, which although significantly damped by catchment mixing processes, was reflected in stream water outputs at six sampling sites. This allowed δ18O variations to be used to infer the relative influence of soil-derived storm flows with a seasonally variable isotopic signature, and groundwater of more constant isotopic composition. Periodic regression analysis was then used to examine the sub-catchment differences in the mixing of these two main hydrological sources processes more quantitatively, using an exponential flow model to provide preliminary estimates of mean stream water residence times, which varied between 0.4-2.9 years. This showed that the effects of increasing scale on estimated mean stream water residence time was minimal beyond the smallest (ca. 1 km2 headwater catchment scale. Instead, the interaction of catchment soil cover and topography acted as the dominant influence. Responsive hydrological pathways, associated with peat soils in the headwater sub-catchments, produced seasonally variable δ18O signatures in runoff with short mean residence times (0.4-0.8 years). In contrast, areas dominated by more freely draining soils and larger groundwater storage in shallow aquifers appear to provide effective mixing and damping of variable precipitation inputs implying longer residence times (1.4-2.9 years). These insights from δ18O measurements extend the hydrological understanding of the Feugh catchment gained from previous geochemical tracer studies, and demonstrate the utility of isotope tracers in investigating the interaction of hydrological processes and catchment characteristics at the mesoscale.

scholarly journals The Effect of Storage on the Radiocarbon, Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotopic Signatures and Concentrations of Riverine DOM

Radiocarbon ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 1113-1122 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Gulliver ◽  
S Waldron ◽  
E M Scott ◽  
C L Bryant
Keyword(s):  
Stream Water ◽  
River System ◽  
Isotopic Signature ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
Isotopic Signatures ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
Storage Method ◽  
Baseline Values ◽  
Chemical Preservatives

Chemical preservatives (e.g. mercuric chloride) are routinely added to freshwater samples to prevent biological activity compromising the isotopic signature of dissolved organic matter (DOM) with time. However, alternative preservation methods are needed due to regulations restricting the use of preservatives with potentially adverse environmental and health impacts, rendering such additions unviable. This study investigates whether a non-chemical storage method is sufficient to maintain the radiocarbon and stable carbon and nitrogen signatures of freshwater DOM from a low order river system draining a peaty catchment. Some 50 L of stream water were collected in 1 plastic carbuoy and, within 24 hr, 1-L aliquots were transferred to acid-washed plastic bottles. Five aliquots were analyzed immediately to determine the baseline values for 14C (pMC), δ13C (VPDB‰), δ15N (AIR‰), %C (mg L–1), and %N (mg L–1). Of the remaining subsamples, 20 were frozen and a further 20 refrigerated at <4 °C. After 7, 30, 90, and 180 days, 5 frozen and 5 refrigerated aliquots were analyzed in the same manner as the baseline aliquots. Analysis of the results shows that there is no statistically significant interaction between the variables storage method or length of storage for any of the determinants. Storage method has a statistically significant effect on 14C (pMC) and [C] (mg L–1). Length of storage has a statistically significant effect on δ13C (VPDB‰), [C] (mg L–1), and [N] (mg L–1) values. Neither storage method nor length of storage appear to have a statistically significant effect on 815N (AIR‰) values.

scholarly journals Using Isotopic Data to Evaluate Esox lucius (Linnaeus, 1758) Natal Origins in a Hydrologically Complex River Basin

Fishes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
Ryan M. Fitzpatrick ◽  
Dana L. Winkelman ◽  
Brett M. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scale ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Northern Pike ◽  
Esox Lucius ◽  
Otolith Microchemistry ◽  
Small Spatial Scale ◽  
Isotopic Signatures ◽  
Invasive Species Control ◽  
Yampa River

Otolith microchemistry has emerged as a powerful technique with which to identify the natal origins of fishes, but it relies on differences in underlying geology that may occur over large spatial scales. An examination of how small a spatial scale on which this technique can be implemented, especially in water bodies that share a large proportion of their flow, would be useful for guiding aquatic invasive species control efforts. We examined trace isotopic signatures in northern pike (Esox lucius) otoliths to estimate their provenance between two reservoirs in the Upper Yampa River Basin, Colorado, USA. This is a challenging study area as these reservoirs are only 11-rkm apart on the same river and thus share a high proportion of their inflow. We found that three isotopes (86Sr, 137Ba, and 55Mn) were useful in discriminating between these reservoirs, but their signatures varied annually, and the values overlapped. Strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) were different between sites and relatively stable across three years, which made them an ideal marker for determining northern pike provenance. Our study demonstrates the usefulness of otolith microchemistry for natal origin determination within the same river over a relatively small spatial scale when there are geologic differences between sites, especially geologic differences underlying tributaries between sites.

scholarly journals The δ13C, δ18O and Δ47 records in biogenic, pedogenic and geogenic carbonate types from paleosol-loess sequence and their paleoenvironmental meaning

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Kazem Zamanian ◽  
Alex R. Lechler ◽  
Andrew J. Schauer ◽  
Yakov Kuzyakov ◽  
Katharine W. Huntington
Keyword(s):  
Land Snail ◽  
Isotopic Signature ◽  
Sediment Layer ◽  
Isotopic Signatures ◽  
Pedogenic Carbonates ◽  
Rhine Valley ◽  
Clumped Isotope ◽  
Time Specific ◽  
Sediment Layers ◽  
Paleoenvironmental Reconstructions

Abstract Paleoenvironmental reconstructions are commonly based on isotopic signatures of a variety of carbonate types, including rhizoliths and land-snail shells, present in paleosol-loess sequences. However, various carbonate types are formed through distinct biotic and abiotic processes over various periods, and therefore may record diverging environmental information in the same sedimentological layer. Here, we investigate the effects of carbonate type on δ13C, δ18O, and clumped isotope-derived paleotemperature [T(Δ47)] from the Quaternary Nussloch paleosol-loess sequence (Rhine Valley, SW Germany). δ13C, δ18O, and T(Δ47) values of co-occurring rhizoliths (-8.2‰ to -5.8‰, -6.1‰ to -5.9‰, 12–32°C, respectively), loess dolls (-7.0‰, -5.6‰, 23°C), land-snail shells (-8.1‰ to -3.2‰, -4.0‰ to -2.2‰, 12–38°C), earthworm biospheroliths (-11‰, -4.7‰, 8°C), and “bulk” carbonates (-1.9‰ to -0.5‰, -5.6‰ to -5.3‰, 78–120°C) from three sediment layers depend systematically on the carbonate type, admixture from geogenic carbonate, and the duration of formation periods. Based on these findings, we provide a comprehensive summary for the application of the three isotopic proxies of δ13C, δ18O, and Δ47 in biogenic and pedogenic carbonates present in the same sediment layer to reconstruct paleoenvironments (e.g., local vegetation, evaporative conditions, and temperature). We conclude that bulk carbonates in Nussloch loess should be excluded from paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Instead, pedogenic and biogenic carbonates should be used to provide context for interpreting the isotopic signature for detailed site- and time-specific paleoenvironmental information.

Western white pine development in relation to biophysical characteristics across different spatial scales in the Coeur d'Alene River basin in northern Idaho, U.S.A.

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 1109-1125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa B Jain ◽  
Russell T Graham ◽  
Penelope Morgan
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Pinus Monticola ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Basal Diameter ◽  
Landscape Characteristics ◽  
Coeur D'alene ◽  
Biophysical Factors ◽  
Western White Pine ◽  
Northern Idaho

Many studies have assessed tree development beneath canopies in forest ecosystems, but results are seldom placed within the context of broad-scale biophysical factors. Mapped landscape characteristics for three watersheds, located within the Coeur d'Alene River basin in northern Idaho, were integrated to create a spatial hierarchy reflecting biophysical factors that influence western white pine (Pinus monticola Dougl. ex D. Don) development under a range of canopy openings. The hierarchy included canopy opening, landtype, geological feature, and weathering. Interactions and individual-scale contributions were identified using stepwise log–linear regression. The resulting models explained 68% of the variation for estimating western white pine basal diameter and 64% for estimating height. Interactions among spatial scales explained up to 13% of this variation and better described vegetation response than any single spatial scale. A hierarchical approach based on biophysical attributes is an excellent method for studying plant and environment interactions.

Identification of Synchronicity in Deterministic Chaotic Attractors for the Downscaling Process in the Bogotá River Basin

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santiago Duarte ◽  
Gerald Corzo ◽  
Germán Santos
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Time Delay ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Climatic Variables ◽  
Chaotic Attractors ◽  
Multiple Attractors ◽  
Nearest Neighbours ◽  
Basin Scale ◽  
Non Linear

&lt;p&gt;Bogot&amp;#225;&amp;#8217;s River Basin, it&amp;#8217;s an important basin in Cundinamarca, Colombia&amp;#8217;s central region. Due to the complexity of the dynamical climatic system in tropical regions, can be difficult to predict and use the information of GCMs at the basin scale. This region is especially influenced by ENSO and non-linear climatic oscillation phenomena. Furthermore, considering that climatic processes are essentially non-linear and possibly chaotic, it may reduce the effectiveness of downscaling techniques in this region.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this study, we try to apply chaotic downscaling to see if we could identify synchronicity that will allow us to better predict. It was possible to identify clearly the best time aggregation that can capture at the best the maximum relations between the variables at different spatial scales. Aside this research proposes a new combination of multiple attractors. Few analyses have been made to evaluate the existence of synchronicity between two or more attractors. And less analysis has considered the chaotic behaviour in attractors derived from climatic time series at different spatial scales.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Thus, we evaluate general synchronization between multiple attractors of various climate time series. The Mutual False Nearest Neighbours parameter (MFNN) is used to test the &amp;#8220;Synchronicity Level&amp;#8221; (existence of any type of synchronization) between two different attractors. Two climatic variables were selected for the analysis: Precipitation and Temperature. Likewise, two information sources are used: At the basin scale, local climatic-gauge stations with daily data and at global scale, the output of the MPI-ESM-MR model with a spatial resolution of 1.875&amp;#176;x1.875&amp;#176; for both climatic variables (1850-2005). In the downscaling process, two RCP (Representative Concentration Pathways)&amp;#160; scenarios are used, RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For the attractor&amp;#8217;s reconstruction, the time-delay is obtained through the&amp;#160; Autocorrelation and the Mutual Information functions. The False Nearest Neighbors method (FNN) allowed finding the embedding dimension to unfold the attractor. This information was used to identify deterministic chaos at different times (e.g. 1, 2, 3 and 5 days) and spatial scales using the Lyapunov exponents. These results were used to test the synchronicity between the various chaotic attractor&amp;#8217;s sets using the MFNN method and time-delay relations. An optimization function was used to find the attractor&amp;#8217;s distance relation that increases the synchronicity between the attractors.&amp;#160; These results provided the potential of synchronicity in chaotic attractors to improve rainfall and temperature downscaling results at aggregated daily-time steps. Knowledge of loss information related to multiple reconstructed attractors can provide a better construction of downscaling models. This is new information for the downscaling process. Furthermore, synchronicity can improve the selection of neighbours for nearest-neighbours methods looking at the behaviour of synchronized attractors. This analysis can also allow the classification of unique patterns and relationships between climatic variables at different temporal and spatial scales.&lt;/p&gt;

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