In this study, I investigated the spatial overlap, diet similarity, and isotopic niches of juvenile Lean and Siscowet Lake Trout ecotypes across six ecoregions of Lake Superior. Spatially, Lean and Siscowet were observed in overlapping depth distributions. Leans were most abundant in shallow waters (60m). The greatest levels of cohabitation were observed in waters from 40-60m. Trophic position (as measured by δ 15N) was similar for both ecotypes at small sizes (mm), but Siscowet exhibited a higher trophic position than Lean Lake Trout at larger sizes (>400mm) and older ages (>5 years). Base of production (as measured by δ 13C) was similar for small Lean and Siscowet. Isotopes of sulfur (δ 34S) indicated the profundal-benthic pathway was more important for Siscowet whereas Leans were more reliant on pelagic energy sources. Lean Lake Trout exhibited greater length-at-age relative to Siscowet. However, Lean Lake Trout length-at-age was negatively related to regional levels of diet similarity and niche overlap. I provide evidence that an ontogenetic shift in which Siscowet Lake Trout shift to feeding in deeper habitats at 400mm or age-5 facilitates resource partitioning between larger and older Lake Trout ecotypes.
","abstract_html":"<p>In this study, I investigated the spatial overlap, diet similarity, and isotopic niches of juvenile Lean and Siscowet Lake Trout ecotypes across six ecoregions of Lake Superior. Spatially, Lean and Siscowet were observed in overlapping depth distributions. Leans were most abundant in shallow waters (60m). The greatest levels of cohabitation were observed in waters from 40-60m. Trophic position (as measured by δ 15N) was similar for both ecotypes at small sizes (mm), but Siscowet exhibited a higher trophic position than Lean Lake Trout at larger sizes (>400mm) and older ages (>5 years). Base of production (as measured by δ 13C) was similar for small Lean and Siscowet. Isotopes of sulfur (δ 34S) indicated the profundal-benthic pathway was more important for Siscowet whereas Leans were more reliant on pelagic energy sources. Lean Lake Trout exhibited greater length-at-age relative to Siscowet. However, Lean Lake Trout length-at-age was negatively related to regional levels of diet similarity and niche overlap. I provide evidence that an ontogenetic shift in which Siscowet Lake Trout shift to feeding in deeper habitats at 400mm or age-5 facilitates resource partitioning between larger and older Lake Trout ecotypes.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Otte, Will"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Biology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Dr. Brandon Gerig"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2021,"date_issued":"2021-12-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2021-12-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:24:17Z","subjects":["Trophic Ecology","Lake Trout","Lake Superior","Great Lakes","Competition","Trophic Niche","Stable Isotopes","Diet Analysis","Growth","Ontogenetic Shift","Aquaculture and Fisheries","Ecology and Evolutionary Biology","Life Sciences"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/691","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Dr. Brandon Gerig"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Otte, Will"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2021-11-10T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Biology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Trophic Ecology","Lake Trout","Lake Superior","Great Lakes","Competition","Trophic Niche","Stable Isotopes","Diet Analysis","Growth","Ontogenetic Shift","Aquaculture and Fisheries","Ecology and Evolutionary Biology","Life Sciences"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/691"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["In this study, I investigated the spatial overlap, diet similarity, and isotopic niches of juvenile Lean and Siscowet Lake Trout ecotypes across six ecoregions of Lake Superior. Spatially, Lean and Siscowet were observed in overlapping depth distributions. Leans were most abundant in shallow waters (60m). The greatest levels of cohabitation were observed in waters from 40-60m. Trophic position (as measured by δ 15N) was similar for both ecotypes at small sizes (mm), but Siscowet exhibited a higher trophic position than Lean Lake Trout at larger sizes (>400mm) and older ages (>5 years). Base of production (as measured by δ 13C) was similar for small Lean and Siscowet. Isotopes of sulfur (δ 34S) indicated the profundal-benthic pathway was more important for Siscowet whereas Leans were more reliant on pelagic energy sources. Lean Lake Trout exhibited greater length-at-age relative to Siscowet. However, Lean Lake Trout length-at-age was negatively related to regional levels of diet similarity and niche overlap. I provide evidence that an ontogenetic shift in which Siscowet Lake Trout shift to feeding in deeper habitats at 400mm or age-5 facilitates resource partitioning between larger and older Lake Trout ecotypes.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["TROPHIC ECOLOGY OF JUVENILE LEAN AND SISCOWET LAKE TROUT (SALVELINUS NAMAYCHUSH) FROM U.S. WATERS OF LAKE SUPERIOR"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Dr. Brandon Gerig"],"dc:creator":["Otte, Will"],"dc:date.available":["2021-11-10T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["In this study, I investigated the spatial overlap, diet similarity, and isotopic niches of juvenile Lean and Siscowet Lake Trout ecotypes across six ecoregions of Lake Superior. Spatially, Lean and Siscowet were observed in overlapping depth distributions. Leans were most abundant in shallow waters (60m). The greatest levels of cohabitation were observed in waters from 40-60m. Trophic position (as measured by δ 15N) was similar for both ecotypes at small sizes (mm), but Siscowet exhibited a higher trophic position than Lean Lake Trout at larger sizes (>400mm) and older ages (>5 years). Base of production (as measured by δ 13C) was similar for small Lean and Siscowet. Isotopes of sulfur (δ 34S) indicated the profundal-benthic pathway was more important for Siscowet whereas Leans were more reliant on pelagic energy sources. Lean Lake Trout exhibited greater length-at-age relative to Siscowet. However, Lean Lake Trout length-at-age was negatively related to regional levels of diet similarity and niche overlap. I provide evidence that an ontogenetic shift in which Siscowet Lake Trout shift to feeding in deeper habitats at 400mm or age-5 facilitates resource partitioning between larger and older Lake Trout ecotypes.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/691"],"dc:subject":["Trophic Ecology","Lake Trout","Lake Superior","Great Lakes","Competition","Trophic Niche","Stable Isotopes","Diet Analysis","Growth","Ontogenetic Shift","Aquaculture and Fisheries","Ecology and Evolutionary Biology","Life Sciences"],"dc:title":["TROPHIC ECOLOGY OF JUVENILE LEAN AND SISCOWET LAKE TROUT (SALVELINUS NAMAYCHUSH) FROM U.S. WATERS OF LAKE SUPERIOR"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Biology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:24:17Z"}