The impact of Great Cormorants on biogenic pollution of land ecosystems: Stable isotope signatures in small mammals

Studying the isotopic composition of the hair of two rodent species trapped in the territories of Great Cormorant colonies, we aimed to show that Great Cormorants transfer biogens from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial ecosystems, and that these substances reach small mammals through the trophic cascade, thus influencing the nutrient balance in the terrestrial ecosystem. Analysis of delta C-13 and delta N-15 was performed on two dominant species of small mammals, Apodemus flavicollis and Myodes glareolus, inhabiting the territories of the colonies. For both species, the values of delta C-13 and delta N-15 were higher in the animals trapped in the territories of the colonies than those in control territories. In the hair of A. flavicollis and M. glareolus, the highest values of delta N-15 (16.31 +/- 3.01% and 17.86 +/- 2.76%, respectively) were determined in those animals trapped in the biggest Great Cormorant colony. delta N-15 values were age dependent, highest in adult A. flavicollis and M. glareolus and lowest in juvenile animals. For delta C-13 values, age-dependent differences were not registered. delta N-15 values in both small mammal species from the biggest Great Cormorant colony show direct dependence on the intensity of influence. Biogenic pollution is at its strongest in the territories of the colonies with nests, significantly diminishing in the ecotones of the colonies and further in the control zones, where the influence of birds is negligible. Thus, Great Cormorant colonies alter ecosystem functioning by enrichment with biogens, with stable isotope values in small mammals significantly higher in the affected territories. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.