Stable isotope analysis of food source and trophic position of intertidal nematodes and copepods

Marine Ecology Progress Series

P. Richard¹  G. Boucher¹  J. Rzeznik-Orignac¹  D. Fichet¹ 

关键词: Nematodes;    Copepods;    Meiofauna;    Microphytobenthos;    Benthic diatoms;    Food web;    Mudflat;    Marennes-Oléron;    Stable isotopes;   

DOI  :  10.3354/meps07328

学科分类：海洋学与技术

来源: Inter-Research

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACT: Four dominant nematode species and various copepods from an intertidal mudflat in Marennes-Oléron Bay were analyzed for δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N ratios together with their potential food source, the microphytobenthos. It was shown that microphytobenthic C is passed to nematodes either by grazing or predation on herbivorous meiofauna by other nematodes. Diatoms of different sizes exhibited different ¹³C content, which can be reflected in herbivorous meiofauna, such as the nematodes Daptonema oxycerca and Metachromadora remanei and the bulk of copepods, indicating they can select different sizes of diatoms. Results confirm the need to analyze meiofauna feeding habits at the species or genera level since the δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C signatures differed substantially among meiofaunal species.

【 授权许可】

Unknown