Food sources of macrobenthos in an estuarine seagrass habitat (Zostera noltii) as revealed by dual stable isotope signatures
Vafeiadou, A.-M.; Materatski, P.; Adão, H.; De Troch, M.; Moens, T. (2013). Food sources of macrobenthos in an estuarine seagrass habitat (Zostera noltii) as revealed by dual stable isotope signatures. Mar. Biol. (Berl.) 160(9): 2517-2523. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-013-2238-0
In: Marine Biology: International Journal on Life in Oceans and Coastal Waters. Springer: Heidelberg; Berlin. ISSN 0025-3162; e-ISSN 1432-1793
Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis was used to examine the resources and position of macrobenthos in an estuarine seagrass food web in two sampling moments, during summer and winter. The contribution of each food source to the carbon requirements of consumers was estimated by a mixing model. The used carbon sources were largely seagrass associated, although seagrass tissues were utilized by only few species, and equally contributed to microphytobenthos and suspended particulate organic matter. Based on isotopic data, Lucinidae bivalves have an alternative trophic pathway via symbiosis with chemoautotrophic bacteria. Resource utilization inside and adjacent to seagrass beds did not differ significantly, implying that seagrass-associated inputs extend well beyond the borders of the vegetation patches.
All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy
Web site hosted and maintained by Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ)
Webmaster info@vliz.be Number of visitors: 962560 - Total hits: 6793264 (since 2006-01-17)