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Karlson AML, Kautsky N, Granberg M, Garbaras A, Lim H, Liénart C. Resource partitioning of a Mexican clam in species-poor Baltic Sea sediments indicates the existence of a vacant trophic niche. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12527. [PMID: 38822023 PMCID: PMC11143366 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62832-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Invasive species are often generalists that can take advantage of formerly unexploited resources. The existence of such vacant niches is more likely in species-poor systems like the Baltic Sea. The suspension feeding wedge clam, Rangia cuneata, native to estuarine environments in the Gulf of Mexico, was sighted for the first time in the southeastern Baltic in 2010 and a few years later in the northern Baltic along the Swedish coast. To explore possible competition for food resources between R. cuneata and the three native clams inhabiting Baltic shallow soft bottoms, stable isotope and fatty acid analyses were conducted. There was no overlap between R. cuneata and any of the native species in either stable isotope or fatty acid niches. This suggests efficient partitioning of resources; multivariate analyses indicate that separation was driven mainly by δ13C and by fatty acids reflecting diatoms and cyanobacteria, respectively (e.g. 16:1ω7 and 18:3ω3). R. cuneata reflected seasonal variation in phytoplankton more than other clams reflecting higher trophic plasticity. In conclusion, the addition of R. cuneata to the Baltic shallow soft bottoms suggests the existence of a vacant trophic niche in these sediment habitats, however the long-term effects on other species and nutrient cycling requires further studies focusing on the population dynamics of R. cuneata and its impact on the Baltic Sea ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes M L Karlson
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nils Kautsky
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Matilda Granberg
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Hwanmi Lim
- Lipidor AB, Svärdvägen 13, 182 33, Danderyd, Sweden
| | - Camilla Liénart
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC, UMR 5805, 33120, Arcachon, France.
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2
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Kokarev V, Zalota AK, Zuev A, Tiunov A, Kuznetsov P, Konovalova O, Rimskaya-Korsakova N. Opportunistic consumption of marine pelagic, terrestrial, and chemosynthetic organic matter by macrofauna on the Arctic shelf: a stable isotope approach. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15595. [PMID: 37404477 PMCID: PMC10315133 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrofauna can contribute substantially to the organic matter cycling on the seafloor, yet the role of terrestrial and chemosynthetic organic matter in the diets of microphagous (deposit and suspension) feeders is poorly understood. In the present study, we used stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen to test the hypothesis that the terrestrial organic matter supplied with river runoff and local chemosynthetic production at methane seeps might be important organic matter sources for macrofaunal consumers on the Laptev Sea shelf. We sampled locations from three habitats with the presumed differences in organic matter supply: "Delta" with terrestrial inputs from the Lena River, "Background" on the northern part of the shelf with pelagic production as the main organic matter source, and "Seep" in the areas with detected methane seepage, where chemosynthetic production might be available. Macrobenthic communities inhabiting each of the habitats were characterized by a distinct isotopic niche, mostly in terms of δ13C values, directly reflecting differences in the origin of organic matter supply, while δ15N values mostly reflected the feeding group (surface deposit/suspension feeders, subsurface deposit feeders, and carnivores). We conclude that both terrestrial and chemosynthetic organic matter sources might be substitutes for pelagic primary production in the benthic food webs on the largely oligotrophic Laptev Sea shelf. Furthermore, species-specific differences in the isotopic niches of species belonging to the same feeding group are discussed, as well as the isotopic niches of the symbiotrophic tubeworm Oligobrachia sp. and the rissoid gastropod Frigidoalvania sp., which are exclusively associated with methane seeps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Kokarev
- Laboratory of Ecology of Coastal Bottom Communities, Shirshov Institute of Oceanology RAS, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna K. Zalota
- Laboratory of Ecology of Coastal Bottom Communities, Shirshov Institute of Oceanology RAS, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey Zuev
- Laboratory of Soil Zoology and General Entomology, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexei Tiunov
- Laboratory of Soil Zoology and General Entomology, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS, Moscow, Russia
| | - Petr Kuznetsov
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga Konovalova
- Centre of Marine Research, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
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3
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Eglite E, Mohm C, Dierking J. Stable isotope analysis in food web research: Systematic review and a vision for the future for the Baltic Sea macro-region. AMBIO 2023; 52:319-338. [PMID: 36269552 PMCID: PMC9589642 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-022-01785-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Food web research provides essential insights into ecosystem functioning, but practical applications in ecosystem-based management are hampered by a current lack of knowledge synthesis. To address this gap, we provide the first systematic review of ecological studies applying stable isotope analysis, a pivotal method in food web research, in the heavily anthropogenically impacted Baltic Sea macro-region. We identified a thriving research field, with 164 publications advancing a broad range of fundamental and applied research topics, but also found structural shortcomings limiting ecosystem-level understanding. We argue that enhanced collaboration and integration, including the systematic submission of Baltic Sea primary datasets to stable isotope databases, would help to overcome many of the current shortcomings, unify the scattered knowledge base, and promote future food web research and science-based resource management. The effort undertaken here demonstrates the value of macro-regional synthesis, in enhancing access to existing data and supporting strategic planning of research agendas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvita Eglite
- Marine Ecology, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 715 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Clarissa Mohm
- Marine Ecology, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Jan Dierking
- Marine Ecology, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
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4
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Jonsson S, Liem-Nguyen V, Andersson A, Skyllberg U, Nilsson MB, Lundberg E, Björn E. Geochemical and Dietary Drivers of Mercury Bioaccumulation in Estuarine Benthic Invertebrates. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:10141-10148. [PMID: 35770966 PMCID: PMC9301910 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c03265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Sediments represent the main reservoir of mercury (Hg) in aquatic environments and may act as a source of Hg to aquatic food webs. Yet, accumulation routes of Hg from the sediment to benthic organisms are poorly constrained. We studied the bioaccumulation of inorganic and methylmercury (HgII and MeHg, respectively) from different geochemical pools of Hg into four groups of benthic invertebrates (amphipods, polychaetes, chironomids, and bivalves). The study was conducted using mesocosm experiments entailing the use of multiple isotopically enriched Hg tracers and simulation of estuarine systems with brackish water and sediment. We applied different loading regimes of nutrients and terrestrial organic matter and showed that the vertical localization and the chemical speciation of HgII and MeHg in the sediment, in combination with the diet composition of the invertebrates, consistently controlled the bioaccumulation of HgII and MeHg into the benthic organisms. Our results suggest a direct link between the concentration of MeHg in the pelagic planktonic food web and the concentration of MeHg in benthic amphipods and, to some extent, in bivalves. In contrast, the quantity of MeHg in benthic chironomids and polychaetes seems to be driven by MeHg accumulation via the benthic food web. Accounting for these geochemical and dietary drivers of Hg bioaccumulation in benthic invertebrates will be important to understand and predict Hg transfer between the benthic and the pelagic food web, under current and future environmental scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofi Jonsson
- Department
of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department
of Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
- Umeå
Marine Sciences Centre, Umeå University, SE-910 20 Hörnefors, Sweden
| | - Van Liem-Nguyen
- Department
of Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Agneta Andersson
- Umeå
Marine Sciences Centre, Umeå University, SE-910 20 Hörnefors, Sweden
- Department
of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå
University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ulf Skyllberg
- Department
of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish
University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Mats B. Nilsson
- Department
of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish
University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Erik Lundberg
- Umeå
Marine Sciences Centre, Umeå University, SE-910 20 Hörnefors, Sweden
| | - Erik Björn
- Department
of Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
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5
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Källberg Normark L, Liénart C, Pillay D, Garbaras A, Savage C, Karlson AM. Isotopic niche size variability in an ecosystem engineer along a disturbance gradient in a South African lagoon. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 173:105541. [PMID: 34871952 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A key challenge for natural resource management is how to detect effects of environmental stress on individuals and populations before declines in abundance occur. Variability in carbon and nitrogen isotope composition (δ13C and δ15N) among consumers can provide information on the population trophic niche and how it may change in response to environmental stress. We measured δ13C and δ15N values in primary producers and in an ecosystem engineer, the bioturbating sandprawn Kraussillichirus kraussi, in Langebaan Lagoon, South Africa, along a human disturbance gradient. Diet partitioning mixing models were coupled with isotope niche analyses and individual body condition data to investigate shifts in resource utilisation and diet plasticity from minimally to highly disturbed sites. The δ15N values of seagrass, Zostera capensis indicated a nutrient gradient, with the highest δ15N values at highly disturbed sites indicating either anthropogenic or marine nitrogen inputs. A decreasing δ15N signal with distance from human disturbance/mouth of lagoon was however not evident for sandprawns nor their presumed dietary sources (phytoplankton, microphytobenthos or sediment organic matter), likely because of faster isotope turnover time compared to seagrass and/or differential fractionation for sandprawns among the sites. Sandprawn isotope niche sizes varied among sites, with no trend along the disturbance gradient. The smallest niche coincided with uniform feeding on microphytobenthos according to mixing models. On an individual level, deviating isotope values from population means were correlated to better body condition, suggesting that a divergent feeding strategy is beneficial. Our results support a generalist feeding behavior of the sandprawns with no evidence of reduced physiological status at the site with most human disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Källberg Normark
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 20, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Camilla Liénart
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 20, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Deena Pillay
- Marine Research Institute, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa
| | | | - Candida Savage
- Marine Research Institute, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa; Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Agnes Ml Karlson
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 20, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
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6
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Moyo S, Bennadji H, Laguaite D, Pérez-Umphrey AA, Snider AM, Bonisoli-Alquati A, Olin JA, Stouffer PC, Taylor SS, López-Duarte PC, Roberts BJ, Hooper-Bui L, Polito MJ. Stable isotope analyses identify trophic niche partitioning between sympatric terrestrial vertebrates in coastal saltmarshes with differing oiling histories. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11392. [PMID: 34316388 PMCID: PMC8288111 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioindicator species are commonly used as proxies to help identify the ecological effects of oil spills and other stressors. However, the utility of taxa as bioindicators is dependent on understanding their trophic niche and life history characteristics, as these factors mediate their ecological responses. Seaside sparrows (Ammospiza maritima) and marsh rice rats (Oryzomys palustris) are two ubiquitous terrestrial vertebrates that are thought to be bioindicators of oil spills in saltmarsh ecosystems. To improve the utility of these omnivorous taxa as bioindicators, we used carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis to quantify their trophic niches at saltmarshes in coastal Louisiana with differing oiling histories. We found that rats generally had lower trophic positions and incorporated more aquatic prey relative to seaside sparrows. The range of resources used (i.e.,trophic niche width) varied based on oiling history. Seaside sparrows had wider trophic niches than marsh rice rats at unoiled sites, but not at oiled sites. Trophic niche widths of conspecifics were less consistent at oiled sites, although marsh rice rats at oiled sites had wider trophic niches than rats at unoiled sites. These results suggest that past oiling histories may have imparted subtle, yet differing effects on the foraging ecology of these two co-occurring species. However, the temporal lag between initial oiling and our study makes identifying the ultimate drivers of differences between oiled and unoiled sites challenging. Even so, our findings provide a baseline quantification of the trophic niches of sympatric seaside sparrows and marsh rice rats that will aid in the use of these species as indicators of oiling and other environmental stressors in saltmarsh ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney Moyo
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America.,Department of Biology, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN, United States of America
| | - Hayat Bennadji
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Danielle Laguaite
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Anna A Pérez-Umphrey
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Allison M Snider
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Andrea Bonisoli-Alquati
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona, Pomona, CA, United States of America
| | - Jill A Olin
- Great Lakes Research Center, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, United States of America
| | - Philip C Stouffer
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Sabrina S Taylor
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Paola C López-Duarte
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States of America
| | - Brian J Roberts
- Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, Chauvin, LA, United States of America
| | - Linda Hooper-Bui
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Michael J Polito
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
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7
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Forsblom L, Lindén A, Engström‐Öst J, Lehtiniemi M, Bonsdorff E. Identifying biotic drivers of population dynamics in a benthic-pelagic community. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:4035-4045. [PMID: 33976792 PMCID: PMC8093679 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Benthic species and communities are linked to pelagic zooplankton through life-stages encompassing both benthic and pelagic habitats and through a mutual dependency on primary producers as a food source. Many zooplankton taxa contribute to the sedimentary system as benthic eggs. Our main aim was to investigate the nature of the population level biotic interactions between and within these two seemingly independent communities, both dependent on the pelagic primary production, while simultaneously accounting for environmental drivers (salinity, temperature, and oxygen conditions). To this end, we applied multivariate autoregressive state-space models to long (1966-2007) time series of annual abundance data, comparing models with and without interspecific interactions, and models with and without environmental variables included. We were not able to detect any direct coupling between sediment-dwelling benthic taxa and pelagic copepods and cladocerans on the annual scale, but the most parsimonious model indicated that interactions within the benthic community are important. There were also positive residual correlations between the copepods and cladocerans potentially reflecting the availability of a shared resource or similar seasonal dependence, whereas both groups tended to correlate negatively with the zoobenthic taxa. The most notable single interaction within the benthic community was a tendency for a negative effect of Limecola balthica on the amphipods Monoporeia affinis and Pontoporeia femorata which can help explain the observed decrease in amphipods due to increased competitive interference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Forsblom
- Marine Research CentreFinnish Environment InstituteHelsinkiFinland
- Environmental and Marine BiologyÅbo Akademi UniversityTurkuFinland
| | - Andreas Lindén
- Natural Resources Institute FinlandHelsinkiFinland
- Novia University of Applied SciencesEkenäsFinland
| | | | - Maiju Lehtiniemi
- Marine Research CentreFinnish Environment InstituteHelsinkiFinland
| | - Erik Bonsdorff
- Environmental and Marine BiologyÅbo Akademi UniversityTurkuFinland
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8
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Probert AF, Ward DF, Beggs JR, Bury SJ, Hermans SM, Lear G, Stanley MC. High Dietary Niche Overlap Between Non-native and Native Ant Species in Natural Ecosystems. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 50:86-96. [PMID: 33269804 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvaa133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Ants represent a highly diverse and ecologically important group of insects found in almost all terrestrial ecosystems. A subset of ant species have been widely transported around the globe and invade many natural ecosystems, often out-competing native counterparts and causing varying impacts on recipient ecosystems. Decisions to control non-native ant populations require an understanding of their interactions and related impacts on native communities. We employed stable isotope analysis and metabarcoding techniques to identify potential dietary niche overlap and identify gut contents of 10 ant species found in natural ecosystems in Aotearoa New Zealand. Additionally, we looked at co-occurrence to identify potential competitive interactions among native and non-native ant species. Ants fed mainly across two trophic levels, with high dietary overlap. Relative to other ant species sampled, two non-native ant species, Linepithema humile and Technomyrmex jocosus, were found to feed at the lowest trophic level. The largest isotopic niche overlap was observed between the native Monomorium antarcticum and the invasive Ochetellus glaber, with analyses revealing a negative co-occurrence pattern. Sequence data of ant gut content identified 51 molecular operational taxonomic units, representing 22 orders and 34 families, and primarily consisting of arthropod DNA. Although we generally found high dietary overlap among species, negative occurrence between a dominant, non-native species and a ubiquitous native species indicates that species-specific interactions could be negatively impacting native ecosystems. Our research progresses and informs the currently limited knowledge around establishing protocols for metabarcoding to investigate ant diet and interactions between native and non-native ant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna F Probert
- Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Ch. Du Musée, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Darren F Ward
- Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jacqueline R Beggs
- Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Sarah J Bury
- National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Science (NIWA), 301 Evans Bay Parade, Hataitai, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Syrie M Hermans
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Gavin Lear
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Margaret C Stanley
- Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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9
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Trophic Niches, Trophic Positions, and Niche Overlaps between Non-Native and Native Fish Species in a Subalpine Lake. WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12123475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In the last century, Italian freshwater ecosystems have been invaded by several non-native fish species. In the subalpine Lake Mergozzo (northern Italy), several recently introduced non-native species dramatically expanded their populations. We used carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes to describe the isotopic niches and trophic positions of native and non-native fish species in Lake Mergozzo. We evaluated their trophic niches, trophic diversity, trophic redundancy and trophic evenness utilizing isotopic niche metrics, and estimated asymmetrical niche overlaps. The trophic traits of non-native fish species and Perca fluviatilis clearly define them as trophic generalists, in terms of among-individual variability of their isotopic niches. The historical increase in abundance of fish non-native species in this lake, their dominance by numbers and biomass within the assemblage, and their broad asymmetrical niche overlaps suggest that their higher degree of trophic generalism might have been one of the key factors that have promoted the invasion of the recipient community.
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10
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Golikov AV, Ceia FR, Sabirov RM, Batalin GA, Blicher ME, Gareev BI, Gudmundsson G, Jørgensen LL, Mingazov GZ, Zakharov DV, Xavier JC. Diet and life history reduce interspecific and intraspecific competition among three sympatric Arctic cephalopods. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21506. [PMID: 33299075 PMCID: PMC7726147 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78645-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Trophic niche and diet comparisons among closely sympatric marine species are important to understand complex food webs, particularly in regions most affected by climate change. Using stable isotope analyses, all ontogenetic stages of three sympatric species of Arctic cephalopods (genus Rossia) were studied to assess inter- and intraspecific competition with niche and diet overlap and partitioning in West Greenland and the Barents Sea. Seven traits related to resource and habitat utilization were identified in Rossia: no trait was shared by all three species. High boreal R. megaptera and Arctic endemic R. moelleri shared three traits with each other, while both R. megaptera and R. moelleri shared only two unique traits each with widespread boreal-Arctic R. palpebrosa. Thus all traits formed fully uncrossing pattern with each species having unique strategy of resource and habitat utilization. Predicted climate changes in the Arctic would have an impact on competition among Rossia with one potential 'winner' (R. megaptera in the Barents Sea) but no potential 'losers'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey V Golikov
- Department of Zoology, Kazan Federal University, 420008, Kazan, Russia.
| | - Filipe R Ceia
- Department of Life Sciences, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rushan M Sabirov
- Department of Zoology, Kazan Federal University, 420008, Kazan, Russia
| | - Georgii A Batalin
- Laboratory of Isotopic and Elemental Analysis, Kazan Federal University, 420111, Kazan, Russia
| | - Martin E Blicher
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, 3900, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Bulat I Gareev
- Laboratory of Isotopic and Elemental Analysis, Kazan Federal University, 420111, Kazan, Russia
| | - Gudmundur Gudmundsson
- Collections and Systematics Department, Icelandic Institute of Natural History, 210, Gardabaer, Iceland
| | - Lis L Jørgensen
- Tromsø Branch, Institute of Marine Research, 9294, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Gazinur Z Mingazov
- Laboratory of Isotopic and Elemental Analysis, Kazan Federal University, 420111, Kazan, Russia
| | - Denis V Zakharov
- Laboratory of Hydrobiology, Polar Branch of All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography, 183038, Murmansk, Russia
- Laboratory of Zoobenthos, Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, 183010, Murmansk, Russia
| | - José C Xavier
- Department of Life Sciences, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
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11
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Kahma TI, Karlson AML, Sun X, Mörth CM, Humborg C, Norkko A, Rodil IF. Macroalgae fuels coastal soft-sediment macrofauna: A triple-isotope approach across spatial scales. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 162:105163. [PMID: 33137597 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.105163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Shallow coastal zones may provide cross-habitat nutrient subsidies for benthic communities offshore, as macrophyte matter can drift to deeper sediments. To study the relative importance of carbon and nutrient flows derived from different primary food sources in a coastal ecosystem, the diets of clam Macoma balthica, polychaete Marenzelleria spp. and mussel Mytilus trossulus were examined across environmental gradients in the northern Baltic Sea using a triple-isotope approach (i.e. 13C, 15N and 34S) and Bayesian mixing models (MixSIAR). Our results suggest that in shallow habitats, production from Fucus vesiculosus is the primary energy source for M. balthica. The proportion of macroalgae-derived matter in the diet of M. balthica and Marenzelleria spp. decreased following a depth gradient. Our models for M. trossulus indicate that the pelagic POM dominates its diet. Our results indicate a trophic connectivity between shallow macrophyte-dominated and deeper habitats, which receive significant amounts of nutrient subsidies from shallower areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- T I Kahma
- University of Helsinki, Tvärminne Zoological Station, J. A. Palménin Tie 260, 10900 Hanko, Finland.
| | - A M L Karlson
- Stockholm University, Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Science, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; Stockholm University, Baltic Sea Centre, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - X Sun
- Stockholm University, Baltic Sea Centre, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - C-M Mörth
- Stockholm University, Department of Geological Sciences, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - C Humborg
- University of Helsinki, Tvärminne Zoological Station, J. A. Palménin Tie 260, 10900 Hanko, Finland; Stockholm University, Baltic Sea Centre, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - A Norkko
- University of Helsinki, Tvärminne Zoological Station, J. A. Palménin Tie 260, 10900 Hanko, Finland; Stockholm University, Baltic Sea Centre, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - I F Rodil
- University of Helsinki, Tvärminne Zoological Station, J. A. Palménin Tie 260, 10900 Hanko, Finland; Stockholm University, Baltic Sea Centre, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
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12
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Hanson N, Larsson Å, Parkkonen J, Faxneld S, Nyberg E, Bignert A, Henning HE, Bryhn A, Olsson J, Karlson AML, Förlin L. Ecological changes as a plausible explanation for differences in uptake of contaminants between European perch and eelpout in a coastal area of the Baltic Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2020; 80:103455. [PMID: 32663516 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2020.103455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Unexpected increasing trends in the concentration of contaminants in European perch (Perca fluviatilis) and in activity of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) in European perch and eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) have been observed at a Swedish coastal reference site. This study uses data from different sources to investigate plausible explanations. The results showed that a change in diet and an improved overall condition coincide with an increase in mercury in European perch. Furthermore, an increase in several organic contaminants in European perch coincided with the introduction of an invasive deep-burrowing polychaete, which likely contributed to the release of contaminants through bioturbation. The increase in EROD-activity in both species seems to be related to contaminants that reach the fish through the water rather than the diet. The results show that for contaminants that are taken up via the diet, trends in contamination can be opposite for different species of fish in the same area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Hanson
- Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, Box 11930, SE-404 39, Göteborg, Sweden.
| | - Åke Larsson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE-405 30, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Jari Parkkonen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE-405 30, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Suzanne Faxneld
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, The Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. 50007, SE-104 05, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elisabeth Nyberg
- Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Naturvårdsverket, SE-106 48, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anders Bignert
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, The Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. 50007, SE-104 05, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helene Ek Henning
- County Administrative Board of Östergötland, Länsstyrelsen Östergötland, SE-581 86 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Andreas Bryhn
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skolgatan 6, SE-74242, Öregrund, Sweden
| | - Jens Olsson
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skolgatan 6, SE-74242, Öregrund, Sweden
| | - Agnes M L Karlson
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Förlin
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE-405 30, Göteborg, Sweden
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13
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Ledesma M, Gorokhova E, Holmstrand H, Garbaras A, Karlson AML. Nitrogen isotope composition of amino acids reveals trophic partitioning in two sympatric amphipods. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:10773-10784. [PMID: 33072295 PMCID: PMC7548185 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
According to ecological theory, two species cannot occupy the same niche. Using nitrogen isotope analyses (δ15N) of amino acids, we tested the extent to which two sympatric deposit‐feeding amphipods, Monoporeia affinis and Pontoporeia femorata, partition their trophic resources. We found that trophic position (TP) and resynthesis index (∑V; a proxy for degradation status of ingested material prior to assimilation by the consumer) differ between species. The surface‐feeding M. affinis had higher TP and intermediate ∑V, both pointing to a large contribution of metazoans in its diet. P. femorata, which feeds in the subsurface layers, had lower TP and a bimodal distribution of the ∑V values, supporting previous experimental evidence of a larger feeding niche. We also evaluated whether TP and ∑V values have consequences for amphipod fecundity and embryo viability and found that embryo viability in M. affinis was negatively linked to TP. Our results indicate that the amino acid‐δ15N data paired with information about reproductive status are useful for detecting differences in the trophic ecology of sympatric amphipods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matias Ledesma
- Department of EcologyEnvironment and Plant Science (DEEP)Stockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
| | - Elena Gorokhova
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES)Stockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
| | - Henry Holmstrand
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES)Stockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
| | - Andrius Garbaras
- Mass Spectrometry LaboratoryCentre for Physical Science and TechnologyLithuania
| | - Agnes M. L. Karlson
- Department of EcologyEnvironment and Plant Science (DEEP)Stockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
- Stockholm University Baltic Sea CentreStockholmSweden
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14
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Eckrich CA, Albeke SE, Flaherty EA, Bowyer RT, Ben‐David M. rKIN: Kernel‐based method for estimating isotopic niche size and overlap. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:757-771. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Shannon E. Albeke
- Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center University of Wyoming Laramie WY USA
- Program in Ecology University of Wyoming Laramie WY USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Flaherty
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Purdue University West Lafayette IN USA
| | - R. Terry Bowyer
- Institute of Arctic Biology University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks AK USA
| | - Merav Ben‐David
- Program in Ecology University of Wyoming Laramie WY USA
- Department of Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming Laramie WY USA
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15
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Jędruch A, Bełdowska M, Ziółkowska M. The role of benthic macrofauna in the trophic transfer of mercury in a low-diversity temperate coastal ecosystem (Puck Lagoon, southern Baltic Sea). ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2019; 191:137. [PMID: 30734103 PMCID: PMC6373316 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-7257-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant that affects human and ecosystem health. Hg is a serious threat especially for the marine environment, in which it undergoes bioaccumulation and biomagnification, reaching elevated concentrations in fish and other seafood. The research aimed at investigating the trophodynamics of Hg in the basal links of the marine food chain: benthic macrofauna and its main food sources (i.e. suspended and sediment organic matter, micro- and macrophytobenthos). The results showed that both the amount and the origin of organic matter affected the Hg level in particular trophic groups of macrozoobenthos. The intensive inflow of terrestrial material influenced the enrichment of suspended particles and microphytobenthos in Hg, leading to increased Hg concentrations in filter-feeding macrofauna. The input of Hg-rich marine matter transported from the deeper parts of the Gulf of Gdańsk along with the near-bottom currents caused higher Hg levels in deposit feeders. The biomagnification factor (BMF) of Hg through benthic food web was dependent on environmental conditions occurring in the studied areas, in particular, factors favouring the growth and fecundity of macrofauna. Consequently, as a result of biodilution, the trophic transfer of Hg was less effective in a more productive region, despite the elevated Hg concentrations in dietary components of the macrofauna and in the surrounding environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Jędruch
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland.
| | - Magdalena Bełdowska
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland
| | - Marcelina Ziółkowska
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland
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16
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Purroy A, Najdek M, Isla E, Župan I, Thébault J, Peharda M. Bivalve trophic ecology in the Mediterranean: Spatio-temporal variations and feeding behavior. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 142:234-249. [PMID: 30376996 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Revised: 10/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The trophic ecology of two bivalves, the clam Callista chione and the cockle Glycymeris bimaculata was studied using environmental and biochemical variables of the suspended particulate matter and the sediment. Samples were collected from two shallow sites, Pag and Cetina, in the coastal oligotrophic Mediterranean Sea, during a 17 month period. The temporal variation of the particulate matter reflected a mixture between marine and terrestrial sources throughout the year, with a clear marine influence during summer and fall, and predominance of terrestrial inputs during spring and winter. The digestive gland was a useful rapid turnover tissue, where the carbon isotope signal was species-specific and the nitrogen isotope one was site-specific. FA markers in the digestive gland revealed a mixed diet where Callista chione fed more upon fresh material than G. bimaculata which relied largely on bacteria-derived detritus. Overall, little feeding niche overlap was observed between the two species during the year, indicating resource partitioning, expected for a food-limited system. The present trophic ecology study in co-occurring species allowed identifying species-specific feeding adaptations to environmental variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariadna Purroy
- Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Šetalište Ivana Meštrovića 63, 21000, Split, Croatia.
| | - Mirjana Najdek
- Institute Ruđer Bošković, Center for Marine Research, 52210, Rovinj, Croatia
| | - Enrique Isla
- Institut de Ciències del Mar-CSIC, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ivan Župan
- Department of Ecology, Agronomy and Aquaculture, University of Zadar, Trg Kneza Višeslava 9, 23000 Zadar, Croatia
| | - Julien Thébault
- Université de Brest, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, Laboratoire des sciences de l'environnement marin (LEMAR UMR6539 CNRS/UBO/IRD/Ifremer), 29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Melita Peharda
- Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Šetalište Ivana Meštrovića 63, 21000, Split, Croatia
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17
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Seasonal variation in resource overlap of invasive and native fishes revealed by stable isotopes. Biol Invasions 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-018-1832-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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18
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Freeman CJ, Janiak DS, Mossop M, Osman R, Paul VJ. Spatial and temporal shifts in the diet of the barnacle Amphibalanus eburneus within a subtropical estuary. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5485. [PMID: 30128215 PMCID: PMC6098678 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The success of many sessile invertebrates in marine benthic communities is linked to their ability to efficiently remove suspended organic matter from the surrounding water column. To investigate the diet of the barnacle Amphibalanus eburneus, a dominant suspension feeder within the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) of central Florida, we compared the stable isotopes ratios (δ13C and δ15N) of barnacle tissue to those of particulate organic matter (POM). Collections were carried out quarterly for a year from 29 permanent sites and at sites impacted by an Aureoumbra lagunensis bloom. δ13C and δ15N values of Amphibalanus eburneus varied across sites, but δ15N was more stable over time. There was a range of δ15N values of Amphibalanus eburneus tissue from 6.0‰ to 10.5‰ across sites. Because land-based sources such as sewage are generally enriched in 15N, this suggests a continuum of anthropogenic influence across sites in the IRL. Over 70% of the variation in δ15N values of Amphibalanus eburneus across sites was driven by the δ15N values of POM, supporting a generalist feeding strategy on available sources of suspended organic matter. The dominance of this generalist consumer in the IRL may be linked to its ability to consume spatially and temporally variable food resources derived from natural and anthropogenic sources, as well as Aureoumbra lagunensis cells. Generalist consumers such as Amphibalanus eburneus serve an important ecological role in this ecosystem and act as a sentinel species and recorder of local, site-specific isotopic baselines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dean S Janiak
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Smithsonian Institution, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
| | - Malcolm Mossop
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Smithsonian Institution, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
| | - Richard Osman
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, USA
| | - Valerie J Paul
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Smithsonian Institution, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
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19
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Ek C, Holmstrand H, Mustajärvi L, Garbaras A, Barisevičiu Te RT, Šapolaitė J, Sobek A, Gorokhova E, Karlson AML. Using Compound-Specific and Bulk Stable Isotope Analysis for Trophic Positioning of Bivalves in Contaminated Baltic Sea Sediments. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:4861-4868. [PMID: 29565572 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b05782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Stable nitrogen isotopes (δ15N) are used as indicators of trophic position (TP) of consumers. Deriving TP from δ15N of individual amino acids (AAs) is becoming popular in ecological studies, because of lower uncertainty than TP based on bulk δ15N (TPbulk). This method would also facilitate biomagnification studies provided that isotope fractionation is unaffected by toxic exposure. We compared TPAA and TPbulk estimates for a sediment-dwelling bivalve from two coastal sites, a pristine and a contaminated. Chemical analysis of PCB levels in mussels, sediments, and pore water confirmed the expected difference between sites. Both methods, but in particular the TPAA underestimated the actual TP of bivalves. Using error propagation, the total uncertainty related to the analytical precision and assumptions in the TP calculations was found to be similar between the two methods. Interestingly, the significantly higher intercept for the regression between TPAA and TPbulk in the contaminated site compared to the pristine site indicates a higher deamination rate due to detoxification as a result of chronic exposure and a higher 15N fractionation. Hence, there is a need for controlled experiments on assumptions underlying amino acid-specific stable isotope methods in food web and bimagnification studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Ek
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry , Stockholm University , Svante Arrhenius väg 8 , SE-106 91 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Henry Holmstrand
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry , Stockholm University , Svante Arrhenius väg 8 , SE-106 91 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Lukas Mustajärvi
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry , Stockholm University , Svante Arrhenius väg 8 , SE-106 91 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Andrius Garbaras
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory , Center for Physical Science and Technology , Savanoriu 231 , LT-02300 Vilnius , Lithuania
| | - Ru Ta Barisevičiu Te
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory , Center for Physical Science and Technology , Savanoriu 231 , LT-02300 Vilnius , Lithuania
| | - Justina Šapolaitė
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory , Center for Physical Science and Technology , Savanoriu 231 , LT-02300 Vilnius , Lithuania
| | - Anna Sobek
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry , Stockholm University , Svante Arrhenius väg 8 , SE-106 91 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Elena Gorokhova
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry , Stockholm University , Svante Arrhenius väg 8 , SE-106 91 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Agnes M L Karlson
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry , Stockholm University , Svante Arrhenius väg 8 , SE-106 91 Stockholm , Sweden
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Science , Stockholm University , Svante Arrhenius väg 20 , SE-114 18 Stockholm , Sweden
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20
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Karlson AML, Reutgard M, Garbaras A, Gorokhova E. Isotopic niche reflects stress-induced variability in physiological status. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2018; 5:171398. [PMID: 29515859 PMCID: PMC5830748 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.171398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The isotopic niche has become an established concept in trophic ecology. However, the assumptions behind this approach have rarely been evaluated. Evidence is accumulating that physiological stress can affect both magnitude and inter-individual variability of the isotopic signature in consumers via alterations in metabolic pathways. We hypothesized that stress factors (inadequate nutrition, parasite infestations, and exposure to toxic substances or varying oxygen conditions) might lead to suboptimal physiological performance and altered stable isotope signatures. The latter can be misinterpreted as alterations in isotopic niche. This hypothesis was tested by inducing physiological stress in the deposit-feeding amphipod Monoporeia affinis exposed to either different feeding regimes or contaminated sediments. In the amphipods, we measured body condition indices or reproductive output to assess growth status and δ13C and δ15N values to derive isotope niche metrics. As hypothesized, greater isotopic niche estimates were derived for the stressed animals compared to the control groups. Moreover, the δ15N values were influenced by body size, reproductive status and parasite infestations, while δ13C values were influenced by body size, oxygen conditions and survival. Using regression analysis with isotope composition and growth variables as predictors, we were able to discriminate between the amphipods exposed to nutritionally or chemically stressful conditions and those in the control groups. Thus, interpretation of isotopic niche can be confounded by natural or anthropogenic stressors that may induce an apparent change in isotopic niche. These findings stress the importance of including measures of growth and health status when evaluating stable isotope data in food web studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes M. L. Karlson
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 20, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 20, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin Reutgard
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 20, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andrius Garbaras
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Centre for Physical Science and Technology, Savanoriu 231, 02300 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Elena Gorokhova
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 20, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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21
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Barnes R. Little-known and phylogenetically obscure South African estuarine microgastropods (Mollusca: Truncatelloidea) as living animals. J NAT HIST 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2017.1408867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R.S.K. Barnes
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, Republic of South Africa
- Department of Zoology & Conservation Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Knysna Basin Project, Knysna, Republic of South Africa
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22
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Karlson AML, Niemand C, Savage C, Pilditch CA. Density of Key-Species Determines Efficiency of Macroalgae Detritus Uptake by Intertidal Benthic Communities. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0158785. [PMID: 27414032 PMCID: PMC4945087 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence shows that increased biodiversity has a positive effect on ecosystem functioning, but the mechanisms that underpin this positive relationship are contentious. Complete extinctions of regional species pools are comparatively rare whereas compositional changes and reductions in abundance and biomass are common, although seldom the focus of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning studies. We use natural, small-scale patchiness in the density of two species of large bivalves with contrasting feeding modes (the suspension-feeding Austrovenus stutchburyi and deposit-feeding Macomona liliana) to examine their influence on the uptake of nitrogen from macroalgae detritus (i.e. measure of ecosystem function and food web efficiency) by other infauna in a 10-d laboratory isotope-tracer experiment. We predicted that densities of these key bivalve species and functional group diversity (calculated as Shannons H, a density-independent measure of community composition) of the intact infaunal community will be critical factors explaining variance in macroalgal per capita uptake rates by the community members and hence determine total uptake by the community. Results show that only two species, M. liliana and a large orbiniid polychaete (Scoloplos cylindrifer) dominated macroalgal nitrogen taken up by the whole community due to their large biomass. However, their densities were mostly not important or negatively influenced per capita uptake by other species. Instead, the density of a head-down deposit-feeder (the capitellid Heteromastus filiformis), scavengers (mainly nemertines and nereids) and species and functional group diversity, best explained per capita uptake rates in community members. Our results demonstrate the importance of species identity, density and large body size for ecosystem functioning and highlight the complex interactions underlying loss of ecological functions with declining biodiversity and compositional changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes M. L. Karlson
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Candida Savage
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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