Trophic Interaction in a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Portunus rituberculatus</Emphasis> Polyculture Ecosystem Based on Carbon and Nitrogen Stable Isotope Analysis

Trophic interaction among various biomass groups in a swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus polyculture pond was investigated using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis. The polycultured animal species also included white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, short-necked clam Ruditapes philippinarum, and redlip mullet Liza haematochila. The mean δ¹³C value for all the biomass groups in polyculture ecosystem ranged from ?25.61‰ to ?16.60‰, and the mean δ¹⁵N value ranged from 6.80‰ to 13.09‰. Significant difference in the δ¹³C value was found between particulate organic matter (POM) and sediment organic matter (SOM) (P < 0.05), indicating that these two organic matter pools have different material sources. Assuming that a ¹³C-enrichment factor of 1.00‰ and a ¹⁵N-enrichment factor of 2.70‰ existed between consumer and prey, diets of the four cultured animals were estimated using a stable isotope mixing model. The estimated model results indicated that P. trituberculatus mainly feed on Aloidis laevis; L. vannamei mainly feed on shrimp feed; while A. laevis, R. philippinarum and L. haematochelia mainly feed on POM. Shrimp feed was also an important food source of R. philippinarum and L. haematochelia. The diets of P. trituberculatus, L. vannamei, R. philippinarum, and L. haematochila showed complementary effects in this polyculture ecosystem. Our finding indicated that the polyculture of these four organisms with suitable farming density could make an effective use of most of the food sources, which can make a highly efficient polyculture ecosystem.     

Spatial differentiation in stable isotope compositions of surface waters and its environmental significance in the Issyk-Kul Lake region of Central Asia

Stable isotope values of oxygen(~(18)O) and hydrogen(~(2)H) of surface waters were used to study the origin and environmental significances in the Issyk-Kul basin of Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia, which is the most important intermountain basin in the modern Tien Shan orogen. This study is the first analysis of hydrochemical spatial differentiation in the stable isotopes of surface waters in this watershed.75 samples were collected from rivers, springs, lakes,rain and snow during the rainy season in July and August of 2016. Stable isotopes of ~(18)O and ~(2)H were studied for all samples, and cation ratios(Sr/Ca and Mg/Ca) were also determined for lake water samples.Stable isotope values from precipitation scattered around the Local Meteoric Water Line(determined from Urumqi Station of the global network of isotopes in precipitation(GNIP)), together with values of the Deuterium excess parameter(d) from 15.3‰ to30.5‰, with an average of 19.8‰, indicating that the moisture sources are primarily from regions with low relative humidity. The δ~(18)O and δ~(2)H values were significantly different between the river and lake samples, indicating that regional evaporation caused the isotopic enrichment of lake water. Geospatial autocorrelation, measured by Moran's I coefficient,indicated weak spatial autocorrelation within stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen in the surface waters of the studied area, which is primarily an effect of climate during the water chemistry evolution. The cation ratios Sr/Ca and Mg/Ca in lake water samples were not correlated with the concentration of total dissolved solids, but did show correlation with stable isotopic values, which is significant for paleoenvironmental reconstruction.     

Food sources of the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum in intertidal areas: evidence from stable isotope analysis

Based on stable isotope analysis, we characterized the dietary regime of the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum inhabiting intertidal areas along the Liaodong Peninsula, Northern China. Samples, including particulate organic matter (POM; n =30), benthic microalgae (BMI; n =30) and R. philippinarum (n =60), were collected from six sampling sites displaying the same ecological conditions. Of the two primary food sources, POM was more depleted in δ ¹³C (?20.61‰ to ?22.89‰) than BMI was (?13.90‰ to ?16.66‰). With respect to ¹⁵N, BMI was more enriched (2.90‰ to 4.07‰) than POM was (4.13‰ to 5.12‰). The δ ¹³C values of R. philippinarum ranged from ?18.78‰ to ?19.35‰ and the δ ¹⁵N values from 7.96‰ to 8.63‰, which were intermediate between the POM and BMI values. In a two-source isotope mixing model, we estimated the relative contributions of POM and BMI to the diet of R. philippinarum to be 74.2% and 25.8%, respectively. We conclude that R. philippinarum feeds mainly on POM, and BMI is also an important supplemental food source in intertidal areas.     

Spatial variation of stable isotopes in different waters during melt season in the Laohugou Glacial Catchment,Shule River basin

To evaluate isotopic tracers at natural abundances by providing basic isotope data of the hydrological investigations and assessing the impacts of different factors on the water cycle, a total of 197 water samples were collected from the Laohugou Glacial catchment in the Shule River basin northwestern China during the 2013 ablation seasons and analyzed their H- and O-isotope composition. The results showed that the isotopic composition of precipitation in the Qilianshan Station in the Laohugou Glacial catchment was remarkable variability. Correspondingly, a higher slope of δ~(18)O-δD diagram, with an average of 8.74, is obtained based on the precipitation samples collected on the Glacier No.12, mainly attributed to the lower temperature on the glacier surface. Because of percolation and elution, the isotopic composition at the bottom of the firn is nearly steady. The δ~(18)O /altitude gradients for precipitation and melt water were -0.37‰/100 m and -0.34‰/100 m, respectively. Exposed to the air and influenced by strong ablation and evaporation, the isotopic values and the δ~(18)O vs δD diagram of the glacial surface ice show no altitudinal effect, indicating that glacier ice has the similar origins with the firn. The variation of isotopic composition in the melt water, varying from -10.7‰ to -16.9‰(δ~(18)O) and from -61.1‰ to -122.1‰(δD) indicates the recharging of snowmelt and glacial ice melt water produced at different altitudes. With a mean value of -13.3‰ for δ~(18)O and -89.7‰ for δD, the isotopic composition of the stream water is much closer to the melt water, indicating that stream water is mainly recharged by the ablation water. Our results of the stable isotopic compositions in natural water in the Laohugou Glacial catchment indicate the fractionations and the smoothing fluctuations of the stable isotopes during evaporation, infiltration and mixture.     

Stable Isotopes in Precipitation and Atmospheric Moisture of Pailugou Catchment in Northwestern China′s Qilian Mountains

Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in precipitation have been widely used as effective traces to investigate hydrological processes such as evaporation and atmospheric moisture source. This study analyzed δD and δ~(18)O of precipitation in continuous event-based samples at three stations of Pailugou Catchment from November 2012 to December 2013. The δ~(18)O and δD values ranged from-32.32‰ to +3.23‰ and from-254.46‰ to +12.11‰, respectively. Results show that the δ~(18)O displayed a distinct seasonal variation, with enriched values occurring in summer and relatively depleted values in winter, respectively. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the δ~(18)O and δD values and local surface air temperature at all the three stations. The nearest Global Network of Isotopes in Precipitation(GNIP) station(Zhangye), compared to the Meteoric Water Lines for this study, showed the obvious local evaporation effects with lower intercept and slope. Additionally, d-excess(δD- 8δ~(18)O) parameter in precipitation exhibited an anti-phase seasonal variability with the δ~(18)O. The 96-h back trajectories for each precipitation event using Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory(HYSPLIT) model indicated a dominant effect of westerly air masses in summer and the integrated influence of westerly and polar air masses in winter.     

Trophic ecology of small yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis Bleeker): stable carbon and nitrogen isotope evidence

The trophic ecology of the small yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis) was studied using stable isotope analyses. Samples were collected from July to September 2009 and 34 individuals from eight sites were examined for stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes. Stable carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) ranged from -20.67 to -15.43, while stable nitrogen isotope ratios (δ15N) ranged 9.18-12.23. The relationship between δ13C and δ15N suggested high resource partitioning in the sampling area. Significant differences in stable isotope values among the eight sampling sites may be linked to environmental diversities involving various physical processes (such as ocean current, wind and tide) and different carbon sources. Furthermore, the stable isotope ratios may also explain the ontogenetic variability in diet and feeding, because δ13C and δ15N varied significantly with increasing body size. The findings are consistent with other studies on diet analyses in small yellow croaker. It was also demonstrated that stable isotope analysis could be used to estimate the trophic characters of small yellow croaker in feeding patterns and migrating habits.     

Origin of sulfur and mode of gypsum formation in central Iraqi soils

The δ18O and δD values of gypsum crystallization water together with δ18O and δ34S of sulfates were used as reliable techniques to study source of sulfur and mode of gypsum formation in selected central Iraqi soils.Six representative pedons on different geologic units were studied.The slope of 3.2 for δ18O and δD plot of gypsum crystallization water showed that evaporation was the major process of gypsum deposition in the study area.The mean δ34S value of +17.58 ‰ showed that Cretaceous sea sulfate followed by Tertiary is the source of sulfur in studied soils.The heavier δ34S value(+17.58 ‰) of the study area compared to central Iran(+13.5 ‰) proved that gypsum in central Iraq soils has been formed in the later stage of evaporation and that Iraqi landforms were cut off from the Tethys seaway after central Iran was evolved.     

江汉平原高砷地下水稳定碳同位素特征及其指示意义

溶解性有机碳（DOC）是地下水中砷释放过程的关键因素,为查明江汉平原高砷地下水稳定碳同位素特征,识别有机质的降解过程对砷富集的影响,采用稳定碳同位素分析测试技术并结合地下水化学特征,对江汉平原典型砷中毒病区的浅层地下水进行了区域采样分析。结果表明:浅层承压水的砷质量浓度为0.23~2 621 μg/L。地表水较地下水具有更负的δ13C_DOC、δ13C_DIC值。地下水中溶解性无机碳（DIC）的δ13C_DIC值在-11.9‰~-3.99‰之间,溶解性有机碳的δ13C_DOC值在-28.5‰~-19.6‰之间。地下水的δ13C_DIC-δ13C_DOC差值与ρ（As）呈一定负相关关系,表明微生物作用下有机质的降解促进了As的富集。δ13C_DIC-δ13C_DOC差值与δ13C_DIC和ρ（DOC）均具有较显著的正相关关系,表明地下水中有机质的氧化分解是导致δ13C_DIC贫化的重要过程,微生物作用下溶解性有机质的降解是地下水中无机碳的重要来源。此外,江汉平原少数高砷地下水呈现较大的δ13C_DIC值,推断江汉平原高砷含水层强还原环境下可能存在的产甲烷过程导致了明显的碳同位素分馏。      

Composition of stable isotope in precipitation and its influences by different vapor sources in the eastern Qilian Mountains

To better understand the process of precipitation and water cycle, the composition of stable isotope in precipitation and its influences by different vapor sources in the eastern of Qilian Mountains were conducted from June 2013 to May 2014. The total of 100 precipitation samples were collected in Wushaoling national meteorological station located in the eastern of Qilian Mountains. The analysis indicates that the slope of Local Meteoric Water Line is lower than that of Global Meteoric Water Line. The average values of δ18 O and δD in precipitation are higher in summer but lower in winter. Except for negative correlation with relative humidity, the stable isotope values in precipitation are positive correlations with temperature, precipitation and water vapor pressure. Influenced by water vapor source, the values of d-excess are lower for the Westerly wind and the South Asia Monsoon onJuly and the Westerly wind and the East Asia Monsoon on August, but they are higher for the Westerly wind on other months, that they are also influenced by the weather conditions in rainfall process. The variation of stable isotope in precipitation exhibited significant temperature effect, and there is also some precipitation amount effect in spring and summer.     

Altitudinal trends in δ<Superscript>13</Superscript>C value,stomatal density and nitrogen content of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus tabuliformis</Emphasis> needles on the southern slope of the middle Qinling Mountains,China

In this study, a coniferous tree species (Pinus tabuliformis Carr.) was investigated at a moderate-altitude mountainous terrain on the southern slope of the middle Qinling Mountains (QLM) to detect the trends in carbon isotope ratio (δ¹³C), leaf nitrogen content (LNC) and stomatal density (SD) with altitude variation in north-subtropical humid mountain climate zone of China. The results showed that LNC and SD both significantly increased linearly along the altitudinal gradient ranging from 1000 to 2200 m, whereas leaf δ¹³C exhibited a significantly negative correlation with the altitude. Such a correlation pattern differs obviously from that obtained in offshore low-altitude humid environment or inland high-altitude semi-arid environment, suggesting that the pattern of increasing δ¹³C with the altitude cannot be generalized. The negative correlation between δ¹³C and altitude might be attributed mainly to the strengthening of carbon isotope fractionation in plants caused by increasing precipitation with altitude. Furthermore, there was a remarkable negative correlation between leaf δ¹³C and LNC. One possible reason was that increasing precipitation that operates to increase isotopic discrimination with altitude overtook the LNC in determining the sign of leaf δ¹³C. The significant negative correlation between leaf δ¹³C and SD over altitudes was also found in the present study, indicating that increases in SD with altitude would reduce, rather than enhance plant δ¹³C values.     

Sea surface temperature and salinity reconstruction based on stable isotopes and Mg/Ca of planktonic foraminifera in the western Pacific Warm Pool during the last 155 ka

Changes in sea surface temperature(SST), seawater oxygen isotope(δ 18 O sw), and local salinity proxy(δ 18 O sw-ss) in the past 155 ka were studied using a sediment core(MD06-3052) from the northern edge of the western Pacifi c Warm Pool(WPWP), within the fl ow path of the bifurcation of the North Equatorial Current. Our records reveal a lead-lag relationship between paired Mg/Ca-SST and δ 18 O during Termination II and the last interglacial period. Similarity in SST between our site and the Antarctic temperature proxy and in CO 2 profi le showed a close connection between the WPWP and the Antarctic. Values of δ 18 O sw exhibited very similar variations to those of mean ocean δ 18 O sw, owing to the past sea-level changes on glacial-interglacial timescale. Calculated values of δ 18 O sw-ss refl ect a more saline condition during high local summer insolation(SI) periods. Such correspondence between δ 18 O sw-ss and local SI in the WPWP may refl ect complex interaction between ENSO and monsoon, which was stimulated by changes in solar irradiance and their infl uence on the local hydrologic cycle. This then caused a striking reorganization of atmospheric circulation over the WPWP.     

凡纳滨对虾不同生长阶段食物组成结构的研究

利用稳定同位素碳比率δ13C作为天然示踪物,对高位养殖池生态系统中人工饲料和天然饵料提供的能源物质对养殖凡纳滨对虾生长的贡献比率进行研究。结果表明:虾体的δ13C值受食物δ13C值的影响,由于其摄食饵料的δ13C值逐渐减小,虾体的δ13C值也逐渐降低,逐渐接近于最后人工饲料的δ13C值,试验虾体的δ13C值由养殖开始时的-19.52‰±0.09‰变为实验结束时的-21.74‰±0.17‰;对虾的食性在10d左右时发生转变,34d左右时人工饲料和浮游动物对虾体的能量贡献基本相同,养殖结束时对虾生长能量的97.29%±0.98%来源于人工饲料。     

高氯酸盐稳定氯、氧同位素测试新技术

高氯酸盐同位素测试技术能够为环境介质中高氯酸盐污染物来源的判识、降解途径与修复效果的监测与评价提供重要的分析工具。在国内建立高氯酸盐稳定氯、氧同位素测试技术,采用真空热解方法组建同位素真空制样系统,并结合GasBenIIIRMS联用技术实现在线高精度测试。实验结果表明,真空制样系统稳定性高,最佳热解反应温度为650℃,样品量约10μmol ClO-₄。δ18O、Δ17O和δ37Cl的方法分析精度分别为0.3‰,0.04‰和0.1‰,达到国际水平,为我国高氯酸盐环境污染的防治研究提供了先进的方法与手段。      

Origins of terrestrial organic matter in surface sediments of the East China Sea shelf

Terrestrial organic matter(TOM) is an important component of marine sedimentary OM, and revealing the origins and transport mechanisms of TOM to the East China Sea(ECS) is important for understanding regional carbon cycle. A novel approach combining molecular proxies and compound-specific carbon isotopes is used to quantitatively constrain the origins and transport mechanisms of TOM in surface sediments from the ECS shelf. The content of terrestrial biomarkers of(C_(27)+C_(29)+C_(31)) n-alkanes(52 to 580 ng g~(-1)) revealed a seaward decreasing trend, the δ~(13)CTOC values(-20.6‰ to-22.7‰) were more negative near the coast, and the TMBR(terrestrial and marine biomarker ratio) values(0.06 to 0.40) also revealed a seaward decreasing trend. These proxies all indicated more TOM(up to 48%) deposition in the coastal areas. The Alkane Index, the ratio of C_(29)/(C_(29)+C_(31)) n-alkanes indicated a higher proportion of grass vegetation in the coastal area; While the δ13C values of C_(29) n-alkane(-_(29).3‰ to-33.8‰) indicated that terrestrial plant in the sediments of the ECS shelf were mainly derived from C_3 plants. Cluster analysis afforded detailed estimates of different-sourced TOM contributions and transport mechanisms. TOM in the Zhejiang-Fujian coastal area was mostly delivered by the Changjiang River, and characterized by higher %TOM(up to 48%), higher %C_3 plant OM(68%-85%) and higher grass plant OM(56%-61%); TOM in the mid-shelf area was mostly transported by aerosols, and characterized by low %TOM(less than 17%), slightly lower C_3 plant OM(56%-72%) and lower grass plant OM(49%-55%).     

Application of stable isotope techniques in studies of carbon and nitrogen biogeochemical cycles of ecosystem

Stable isotope techniques have been proved useful as tools for studying the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) biogeochemical cycles of ecosystem. This paper firstly introduced the basic principles and the distribution characteristics of stable isotope, then reviewed the recent advances and applications of stable isotope in the C and N biogeochemical cycles of ecosystem. By applying the 13 C natural abundance technique, ecologists are able to understand the photosynthetic path and CO 2 fixation of plants, the CO 2 exchange and C balance status of ecosystem, the composition, distribution and turnover of soil organic C and the sources of organic matter in food webs, while by using the 13 C labeled technique, the effects of elevated CO 2 on the C processes of ecosystem and the sources and fate of organic matter in ecosystem can be revealed in detail. Differently, by applying the 15 N natural abundance technique, ecologists are able to analyze the biological N 2 -fixation, the N sources of ecosystem, the N transformation processes of ecosystem and the N trophic status in food webs, while by using the 15 N labeled technique, the sources, transformation and fate of N in ecosystem and the effects of N input on the ecosystem can be investigated in depth. The applications of both C and N isotope natural abundance and labeled techniques, combined with the elemental, other isotope ( 34 S) and molecular biomarker information, will be more propitious to the investigation of C and N cycle mechanisms. Finally, this paper concluded the problems existed in current researches, and put forward the perspective of stable isotope techniques in the studies on C and N biogeochemical cycles of ecosystem in the future.     

Importance of kelp-derived organic carbon to the scallop <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlamys farreri</Emphasis> in an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture system

Bivalves and seaweeds are important cleaners that are widely used in integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) systems. A beneficial relationship between seaweed and bivalve in the seaweed-based IMTA system has been confirmed, but the trophic importance of seaweed-derived particulate organic materials to the co-cultured bivalve is still unclear. We evaluated the trophic importance of the kelp Saccharina japonica to the co-cultured scallop Chlamys farreri in a typical IMTA farm in Sungo Bay (Weihai, North China). The dynamics of detritus carbon in the water were monitored during the culturing period. The proportion of kelp-derived organic matter in the diet of the co-cultured scallop was assessed via the stable carbon isotope method. Results showed that the detritus carbon in the water ranged from 75.52 to 265.19 μg/L, which was 25.6% to 73.8% of total particulate organic carbon (TPOC) during the study period. The amount of detritus carbon and its proportion in the TPOC changed throughout the culture cycle of the kelp. Stable carbon isotope analysis showed that the cultured scallop obtained 14.1% to 42.8% of its tissue carbon from the kelp, and that the percentages were closely correlated with the proportion of detritus carbon in the water (F =0.993, P= 0.003). Evaluation showed that for 17 000 tons (wet weight) of annual scallop production, the kelp contributed about 139.3 tons of carbon (535.8 tons of dry mass). This confirms that cultured kelp plays a similar trophic role in IMTA systems as it does in a natural kelp bed. It is a major contributor to the detritus pool and supplies a vital food source to filter-feeding scallops in the IMTA system, especially during winter and early spring when phytoplankton are scarce.     

Peat humification- and δ<Superscript>13</Superscript>C<Subscript>cellulose</Subscript>-recorded warm-season moisture variations during the past 500 years in the southern Altai Mountains within northern Xinjiang of China

To predict future spatio-temporal patterns of climate change, we should fully understand the spatio-temporal patterns of climate change during the past millennium. But, we are not yet able to delineate the patterns because the qualities of the retrieved proxy records and the spatial coverage of those records are not adequate. Northern Xinjiang of China is one of such areas where the records are not adequate. Here, we present a 500-yr land-surface moisture sequence from Heiyangpo Peat (48.34°N, 87.18°E, 1353 m a.s.l) in the southern Altai Mountains within northern Xinjiang. Specifically, peat carbon isotope value of cellulose (δ¹³C_cellulose) was used to estimate the warm-season moisture variations and the degree of humification was used to constrain the δ¹³C_cellulose-based hydrological interpretation. The climatic attributions of the interpreted hydrological variations were based on the warm-season temperature reconstructed from Belukha ice core and the warm-season precipitation inferred from the reconstructed Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillations (AMO). The results show that humification decreased and the δ¹³C_cellulose-suggested moisture decreased from ~1510 to ~1775 AD, implying that a constant drying condition may have inhibited peat decay. Our comparison with reconstructed climatic parameters suggests that the moisture-level decline was most likely resulted from a constant decline of precipitation. The results also show that humification kept a stable level and the δ¹³C_cellulose-suggested moisture also decreased from ~1775 to ~2013 AD, implying that peat decay in the acrotelm primarily did not depend on the water availability or an aerobic environment. Again, our comparison with reconstructed climatic parameters suggests that the land-surface moisturelevel decline was most likely resulted from a steady warming of growing-season temperature.     

The relationship between fat content and biological parameters of bigeye tuna (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Thunnus obseus</Emphasis>) in the Western Central Indian Ocean

Comparing fat content with physiological status can throw light on the reproduction and feeding behavior of the fish. The biological data of 586 bigeye tuna were collected from the longline fishery in the waters of Western Central Indian Ocean from November, 2012 to March, 2013. The spatial or temporal distribution of the fat content, and the relationships of fat content with gender, round weight, gonadal maturity and fork length were analyzed. A generalized additive model (GAM) was used to analyze the relationships between fat content and fork length (FL), gonadosomatic index (GSI), condition factor (K), and somatic index (SI). Results showed that: 1) the fat content of bigeye tuna was in the range of 3.1%–27.1% with the average 12.8%; 2) there were no significant geographical differences of average fat content (P > 0.05) among 1° squares in general; 3) there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) of the fat content for different genders, months, or gonad maturity stages; 4) there was an extremely significant correlation (P = 0.000) between fat content and FL and GSI. There was no significant correlation (P = 0.051) between fat content and K. There was a significant correlation (P = 0.003) between fat content and SI. The results of this study suggest that the fat content of the matured fish was relatively stable. The survey area was in a spawning region, and the survey period was the spawning season for bigeye tuna.     

Application of stable isotope tracing technologies in identification of transformation among waters in Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China

In order to investigate the transformation among the precipitation,groundwater,and surface water in the Sanjiang Plain,Northeast China,precipitation and groundwater samples which were collected at the meteorological station of the Sanjiang Mire Wetland Experimental Station,Chinese Academy of Sciences and the surface water which collected from the Wolulan River were used to identify the transformation of three types of water.The isotope composition of different kinds of water sources were analyzed via stable isotope(deuterium and oxygen-18) investigation of natural water.The results show a clear seasonal difference in the stable isotopes in precipitation.During the cold half-year,the mean stable isotope in precipitation in the Sanjiang Plain reaches its minimum with the minimum temperature.The δ18O and δD values are high in the rainy season.In the Wolulan River,the evaporation is the highest in August and September.The volume of evaporation and the replenishment to the river is mostly same.The groundwater is recharged more by the direct infiltration of precipitation than by the river flow.The results of this study indicate that the water bodies in the Sanjiang Plain have close hydrologic relationships,and that the transformation among each water system frequently occurs.     

Stable isotopes in aquatic food web of an artificial lagoon in the Hangzhou Bay, China

Stable isotope values, δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N, were determined for four primary producers and 19 dominant consumers in a small artificial lagoon located in Hangzhou Bay. Based on these results the major pathways for energy flow and trophic structure of the artificial lagoon ecosystem were characterized. The mean δ¹³C values for the 19 consumers ranged from −22.99‰ to −14.24‰. Apart from so-iny mullet Liza haematocheila, the other 18 consumers had intermediate δ¹³C values between those of epibenthic microalgae and particulate organic matter (POM). The results of a multiple source linear mixing model (IsoSource model) indicated that 50% or more of the organic carbon in the tissues of most consumers was derived from epibenthic microalgae. This indicated that these primary producers were the main food source fueling the lagoon food web. The mean δ¹⁵N values for the 19 consumers varied between 4.93‰ and 12.97‰ and indicated four trophic levels in the lagoon. Four macroinvertebrates and zooplankton represented the primary consumers, whilst the other 14 consumers occupied the secondary and tertiary consumer levels. The 19 consumers were divided into three trophic guilds (detritivores/suspension feeders, omnivores and carnivores).