Links between introduced fish and zooplanktonic and zoobenthic food sources in the food webs of two reservoirs of a semi-arid zone in Algeria

Abstract

Few studies have focused on the trophic functioning of the reservoirs in Algeria. The study of the gut contents of fish species, as well as the analysis of the stable isotopes of 13C and 15N in the environment, were carried out on samples collected during spring 2010 in two reservoirs: Ghrib and Harreza of the upper Cheliff plain (Algeria) within a semi-arid climate zone. In each of the reservoirs, 13C and 15N were measured in sediments, particulate organic matter (POM), macrophytes, zooplankton, zoobenthos and fish. The isotopic analysis shows that the carbon values that supply both reservoirs, Ghrib and Harreza, were −31.16 ± 0.05 < 13C < −18.01 ± 0.21‰ and −30.82 ± 0.07 < 13C < −17.24 ± 3.50‰, respectively. The carnivorous fish Sander lucioperca, and Abramis brama, an omnivorous fish, were allocated to the top of the food web in Ghrib and Harreza reservoirs, respectively. In the latter, a reservoir with low hydrodynamism and depth, the food web is simpler with a single fish species, which benefits from both benthic and pelagic sources. In Ghrib, a deeper dam with stronger hydrodynamics, only the riverine crab Potamon algeriense exploits the benthic sources, whereas fish mainly feed on zooplankton.

Keywords: freshwater fish, gut content, lakes, stable isotopes, sub-desert regions