In this study ¹³C/¹²C and ¹⁵N/¹⁴N ratios were measured from 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘶 tissue, from all stages throughout the fish's lifecycle. The different stages in the life of 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘶 are represented also by shifts in the trophic level of the fish. As embryos, the δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C values for 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘶 tissues are dependent on the δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C of the mother. Also until the point of metamorphosis, where the yolk sac is completely used up, the isotopes reflected in the tissues represent a combination of the δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C of the yolk and any plankton which the young fish are able to feed on. As the fish grows and its diet changes to crayfish and other smaller fish the isotopes reflected in the 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘶 shift as the fish effectively increases its trophic position. Definite trends were seen in the δ¹⁵N values throughout the entire lifecycle of 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘶, and while the δ¹³C values did not produce such definite trends it was discovered that there was an overlying spatial trend represented in the δ¹³C values. This means that Micropterus dolomieu of similar age and size display an obvious offset in their δ¹³C values depending on their location in the lake. Also addressed here are the potential problems related to working with preservative chemicals and the effects they have on isotope ratios. Shifts were not only seen in both δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C (as has been addressed in the past) but also between different batches of the same preservative fluid. Different batches of formalin can potentially give different offsets to both δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C, making it necessary to calibrate offsets given by all batches of formalin used throughout the entire procedure. / Thesis / Master of Science (MS)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/23182 |
| Date | 09 1900 |
| Creators | Fekete, Danielle |
| Contributors | Schwarcz, Henry, Geology |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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