Assimilation of freshwater salmonid aquaculture waste by native aquatic biotaThis paper is part of the series Forty Years of Aquatic Research at the Experimental Lakes Area.

An experimental finfish aquaculture farm was operated in a small lake at the Experimental Lakes Area in northwestern Ontario, Canada. In this study, we used the distinct and enriched carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ 13 C and δ 15 N) of rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) feed and waste to determine whether the operation provided a novel source of energy for native biota. For 1 year prior to and for 3 years during the cage culture, we …