Validating fin tissue as a non-lethal proxy to liver and muscle tissue for stable isotope analysis of yellow perch (Perca flavescens). Issue 2 (4th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McCloskey, Meagan; Yurkowski, David J.; Semeniuk, Christina A. D.
• Is Part Of: Isotopes in environmental and health studies. Volume 54:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 196
• Page End: 208
• Publication Date: 2018-03-04
• Subjects: Carbon-13 -- nitrogen-15 -- caudal fin -- muscle -- liver -- preservation; Isotopes -- Periodicals; Radioisotopes -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Isotopes -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Radioisotopes -- Periodicals; 541.388
• DOI: 10.1080/10256016.2017.1391242
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1025-6016

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Stable isotope ecology typically involves sacrificing the animal to obtain tissues. However, with threatened species or in long-term longitudinal studies, non-lethal sampling techniques should be used. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine if caudal fin tissue could be used as a non-lethal proxy to liver and muscle for stable isotope analysis, and (2) assess the effects of ethanol preservation on δ 15 N and δ 13 C in fin tissue of juvenile yellow perch Perca flavescens . The δ 13 C of caudal fin was not significantly different from liver ( t 23 = −0.58; p = 0.57), and was more correlated with δ 15 N in liver ( r 2 = 0.78) than muscle ( r 2 = 0.56). Ethanol preservation enriched 15 N and 13 C for caudal fins, but by using our developed regression models, these changes in δ 15 N and δ 13 C can now be corrected. Overall, caudal fin tissue is a more reliable proxy to liver than muscle for δ 15 N and δ 13 C in yellow perch.