Ancient Isotopes Reveal Pre-Lessepsian Invasions and Recent Overfishing in the Levant: Insights from Holocene Fish Remains

We have analysed this data using an isotopic niche space approach to compare ancient and modern data sets (modern data from Fanelli et al. (2015)). The main findings are:
1. Our historic baseline for foraging ecology indicates that modern indigenous Mediterranean fish have expanded their trophic niches beyond what was seen prior to Lessepsian invasions.
2. In a more ‘pristine’ ecosystem, middle and lower trophic levels have the highest degree of overlap in isotopic niche spaces, suggesting greater levels of competition for trophic resources.
3. An ontogenetic shift in foraging ecology to a more specialised diet with increasing size for ancient groupers (Epinephelidae).