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<p>Climate change is reshaping aquatic ecosystems, particularly in boreal rivers where warming temperatures facilitate range expansions of warm-water species. This study investigated potential interspecific competition between the native brook trout (<i>Salvelinus fontinalis</i>) and the expanding fallfish (<i>Semotilus corporalis</i>) for resources. We combined fish capture data, habitat assessments, stable isotope analysis, and stomach content analysis to measure and compare spatial, dietary, and isotopic niches across six sampling sites in the Jacques-Cartier River, Quebec, Canada. Overall, important similarities in spatial niches were detected between the two species. Fallfish exhibited narrower habitat use and were twice as abundant as brook trout. The analysis of stomach contents revealed that both species may share similar dietary niches, with both diets predominantly consisting of aquatic insects. Stable isotope analysis also revealed that isotopic niche of brook trout completely encompasses the isotopic niche of fallfiish, with&#xa0;brook trout exhibiting a slightly broader niche. This important niche overlap suggests potential competitive interactions that may threaten brook trout populations under continued warming scenarios. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating ecological niche metrics in fisheries management to better anticipate biodiversity responses to climate change.</p>

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Ecological niche overlap in a warming boreal river: a case study of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and fallfish (Semotilus corporalis)

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月22日

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  • Aglaé H. Lambert,
  • Gilbert Cabana,
  • Eva C. Enders

摘要

Climate change is reshaping aquatic ecosystems, particularly in boreal rivers where warming temperatures facilitate range expansions of warm-water species. This study investigated potential interspecific competition between the native brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and the expanding fallfish (Semotilus corporalis) for resources. We combined fish capture data, habitat assessments, stable isotope analysis, and stomach content analysis to measure and compare spatial, dietary, and isotopic niches across six sampling sites in the Jacques-Cartier River, Quebec, Canada. Overall, important similarities in spatial niches were detected between the two species. Fallfish exhibited narrower habitat use and were twice as abundant as brook trout. The analysis of stomach contents revealed that both species may share similar dietary niches, with both diets predominantly consisting of aquatic insects. Stable isotope analysis also revealed that isotopic niche of brook trout completely encompasses the isotopic niche of fallfiish, with brook trout exhibiting a slightly broader niche. This important niche overlap suggests potential competitive interactions that may threaten brook trout populations under continued warming scenarios. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating ecological niche metrics in fisheries management to better anticipate biodiversity responses to climate change.