Assessment of trophic position and food sources using stable isotopes of sulfur, carbon and nitrogen : Peace and Athabasca rivers 1992 and 1993 / by R. H. Hesslein and P. S. Ramlal.: R71-49/3-97E

A study was carried out of the stable isotope composition of sulphur, carbon, and nitrogen in the tissues of fish from two locations in the Athabasca River, 630km, near the town of Athabasca, and 300km, near the town of Fort McMurray, and two locations in the Peace River, site IS1 near Many Islands, about 950 km from the mouth, and IS11 just upstream from the confluence with the Slave River. Fish species analyzed consisted of burbot, walleye, mountain whitefish, northern pike, goldeye, longnose sucker, trout perch, emerald shiner, flathead chub, and lake chub. A set of examples (Sample Set#1) provided by the Northern River Basins Study consisting of biofilm, invertebrates, and fish from the upper Athabasca River was also analyzed. Water samples from the winter oxygen survey of the Athabasca River and its tributaries carried out by Alberta Environment were analyzed for sulfer isotopes in dissolved sulfate and carbon isotopes in dissolved organic carbon. The purpose of the study was to extend the data base on feeding and movement of the fish which could be derived from the sulphur and carbon isotope data, and to use the nitrogen isotope data to define the trophic positions of the organisms.--Report Summary

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