中街山列岛海域食物网结构初步研究及主要消费者潜在碳源分析

为了解中街山列岛的食物网结构特征,本研究于2020年7月在中街山列岛海域采集鱼类、虾蟹类、头足类、贝螺类和浮游动物等消费者样本,利用碳、氮稳定同位素技术,分析大型海藻、浮游植物、悬浮颗粒有机物(POM)和沉积物有机物(SOM)4种潜在碳源对消费者的贡献率以及中街山列岛海域的食物网结构和营养关系。结果表明：(1)碳源的δ¹³C值范围在-22.93‰～-9.73‰之间,δ15N值范围在1.72‰～7.68‰之间,消费者的δ¹³C值范围在-21.95‰～-12.55‰之间,δ15N值范围在4.13‰～12.92‰之间,不同碳源及不同消费者类群之间的碳、氮稳定同位素均有显著性差异(p<0.01);(2)应用SIBER模型计算中街山列岛海域的营养结构指标,与其他海域的研究结果对比发现,该海域生态系统的食源多样性更加丰富,营养级长度和生态位总空间较高;(3)应用SIAR模型计算碳源贡献率,结果表明浮游植物和POM是该海域的重要碳源,平均贡献率为29.63%和28.72%;浮游植物对浮游动物的贡献率最大为80.58%,POM对鱼类的贡献率最大为79....     

应用稳定同位素技术研究江苏近海食物网营养结构的季节性变化

本研究基于稳定同位素技术对江苏近海春、夏、秋季采集的不同生物类群(鱼类、甲壳类、头足类和底栖动物等)进行稳定同位素的分析,利用SIBER模型计算不同季节消费者的营养生态位,并计算出6种营养结构的量化指标.结果表明,3个季节的δ13C值、δ15N值均差异不显著(p>0.05).春季δ13C值范围为?24.47‰～?14....     

Sources and transfer of organic matter in food webs of a Mediterranean coastal environment: Evidence for spatial variability

The spatial variability in the food web structure of a Mediterranean semi-enclosed coastal environment (Stagnone di Marsala, Italy) was investigated using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes. Organic matter sources and consumers were sampled in two locations with different environmental features (e.g. hydrodynamic regime, open-sea influence, vegetal coverage). Overall more ¹³C-enriched and ¹⁵N-depleted values were found in the central location than in the southern for organic matter sources and consumers. Pelagic consumers (zooplankton and juveniles of transient fish) showed slight spatial differences and in both locations seemed to depend on phytoplankton as the ultimate energy source. In contrast, benthic consumers (epifauna and resident fish) exhibited remarkable differences between locations. Spatial differences in organic matter sources were smaller than in benthic consumers and thus consumers presumably exploited different ultimate organic matter sources in the two locations. Sedimentary organic matter and epiphytes appeared to be the main primary producers transferred within the food web in both locations, and seagrasses seemed to play a non-negligible trophic role in the central location. The results of this paper corroborate the finding food webs are characterised by high spatial variability even on a small spatial scale and environmental heterogeneity more than primary production that seems to influence the trophic role of autotrophs.     

Food web structure in a near-pristine mangrove area of the Australian Wet Tropics

Carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition was used to identify the main sources of carbon and describe the main trophic pathways in Deluge Inlet, a near-pristine mangrove estuary in tropical north Queensland, Australia. Producers' δ¹³C varied from −28.9‰ for mangroves to −18.6‰ for seagrass. Animals were also well separated in δ¹³C (−25.4‰ to −16.3‰ for invertebrates and −25.2‰ to −17.2‰ for fish), suggesting considerable differences in ultimate sources of carbon, from a substantial reliance on mangrove carbon to an almost exclusive reliance on seagrass. In general, invertebrates had lower δ¹⁵N than fish, indicating lower trophic levels. Among fish, δ¹⁵N values reflected well the assumed trophic levels, as species from lower trophic levels had lower δ¹⁵N than species from higher trophic levels. Trophic levels and trophic length were estimated based on δ¹⁵N of invertebrate primary consumers (6.1‰), with results suggesting a food web with four trophic levels. There was also evidence of a high level of diet overlap between fish species, as indicated by similarities in δ¹³C for fish species of higher trophic levels. Stable isotope data was also useful to construct a general model for this food web, where five main trophic pathways were identified: one based on both mangrove and microphytobenthos, one on plankton, two on both microphytobenthos and seagrass, and one based mainly on seagrass. This model again suggested the presence of four trophic levels, in agreement with the value calculated based on the difference in δ¹⁵N between invertebrate primary consumers and top piscivores.     

Utilization of carbon sources in a northern Brazilian mangrove ecosystem

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (¹³C and ¹⁵N) and trophic level (TL) estimates based on stomach content analysis and published data were used to assess the contribution of autotrophic sources to 55 consumers in an intertidal mangrove creek of the Curuçá estuary, northern Brazil. Primary producers showed δ¹³C signatures ranging between −29.2 and −19.5‰ and δ¹⁵N from 3.0 to 6.3‰. The wide range of the isotopic composition of carbon of consumers (−28.6 to −17.1‰) indicated that different autotrophic sources are important in the intertidal mangrove food webs. Food web segregation structures the ecosystem into three relatively distinct food webs: (i) mangrove food web, where vascular plants contribute directly or indirectly via POM to the most ¹³C-depleted consumers (e.g. Ucides cordatus and zooplanktivorous food chains); (ii) algal food web, where benthic algae are eaten directly by consumers (e.g. Uca maracoani, mullets, polychaetes, several fishes); (iii) mixed food web where the consumers use the carbon from different primary sources (mainly benthivorous fishes). An IsoError mixing model was used to determine the contributions of primary sources to consumers, based on δ¹³C values. Model outputs were very sensitive to the magnitude of trophic isotope fractionation and to the variability in ¹³C data. Nevertheless, the simplification of the system by a priori aggregation of primary producers allowed interpretable results for several taxa, revealing the segregation into different food webs.     

Food web structure of the coastal area adjacent to the Tagus estuary revealed by stable isotope analysis

The identification of energy sources, pathways and trophic linkages among organisms is crucial for the understanding of food web dynamics. Stable isotopes were used to identify the trophic level of food web components and track the incorporation of organic matter of different origins in the coastal ecosystem adjacent to the Tagus estuary. It was shown that the river Tagus is a major source of organic carbon to this system. Also, the wide difference in δ¹³C among the primary consumers allowed the identification of the pelagic and the benthic energy pathways. The maximum trophic level observed was 2.4 for Sepia officinalis. This value is indicative of a short food web. It was concluded that the diet of the upper trophic level species relies directly on the lower food web levels to a considerable extent, instead of relying mostly on intermediate trophic level species. Moreover, the δ¹⁵N values of primary consumers were very close to that of particulate organic matter, probably due to poorly known processes occurring at the basis of the food web. This lowers the trophic length of the whole food web. Reliance on benthic affinity prey was high for all upper trophic level secondary consumers.     

Protected nearshore shallow and deep subtidal rocky reef communities differ in their trophic diversity but not their nutritional condition

Large physical changes that alter reef macrobenthos and fish assemblages occur with increasing depth, so the biological processes that regulate communities at different depths are expected to diverge. We used analyses of stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) and fatty acids to establish whether shallow (11–25 m) and deep (45–75 m) warm-temperate reef communities within a South African marine protected area differ in their trophic organisation and nutritional condition. We found evidence of enhanced nutritional condition in plankton from the deeper reef as compared with the shallow reef based on the essential fatty acid content, but this effect was generally not observed in the macrobenthos or the fish communities. Community-based indices derived from the stable isotope data indicated that the shallow-reef community had significantly greater niche diversification (greater diversity of carbon sources at the base of the food web) and more niche space occupied than the deep-reef community. One obvious difference in available carbon sources between reef communities was the absence of benthic primary production on the deep reef, where light is limiting. Our results highlight that the decreased trophic diversity, and to an extent functional redundancy, associated with the simplification of food webs at depth may translate into greater vulnerability of deep reefs to disturbance.     

Food web structure of two Mediterranean lagoons under varying degree of eutrophication

The food web structure and functioning of two north-western Mediterranean lagoons exhibiting contrasting degrees of eutrophication and marine influences were compared through δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N analysis of major potential food sources and consumers. The Lapalme Lagoon is well preserved and has kept a natural and temporary connection with the open sea. Conversely, the Canet Lagoon is heavily eutrophicated and its water exchange with the open sea has been artificially reduced. In Lapalme, all potential food sources and consumers exhibited δ¹⁵N values indicative of pristine coastal areas. Suspended particulate organic matter (POM) and sediment organic matter (SOM) pools seemed to constitute the main food sources of most primary consumers. Both primary producers and all consumers were much more ¹⁵N-enriched (by ∼ 10‰) and more ¹³C-depleted in Canet than in Lapalme. This reflected: (1) the assimilation of important amounts of anthropogenic nitrogen in the food web, and (2) a marked and uniform influence of ¹³C-depleted allochtonous sources of carbon. Based on the mean δ¹⁵N of primary consumers, we found rather similar food web lengths in both lagoons with top consumers at trophic levels 3.6 and 4.0 in Canet and Lapalme, respectively. However, the eutrophication of the Canet Lagoon resulted in a simplification of the food web structure (i.e., a single trophic pathway from a ¹⁵N-enriched fraction of the SOM pool to top predators) compared to what was observed in Lapalme Lagoon where additional ¹³C-enriched food sources played a significant trophic role. Moreover, some consumers of Canet tended to exploit primary producers to a larger extent (and thus to exhibit lower trophic levels) than in Lapalme.     

Assessing food web dynamics and relative importance of organic matter sources for fish species in two Portuguese estuaries: a stable isotope approach

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes (δ13C, δ1?N) were used to analyse food web dynamics of two of the main estuaries of the Portuguese coast: Tejo and Mira. The ultimate sources of organic matter supporting production of some of the most abundant and commercially important fish species were determined; and seasonal, inter- and intra- estuarine differences in the trophic relations among producers and consumers were identified. Stable isotope analysis was performed in different producers, primary consumers (main prey items for fish) and fish species (Solea solea, Solea senegalensis, Pomatoschistus microps, Dicentrarchus labrax, Liza ramada, Diplodus vulgaris and Atherina presbyter) of two areas in each estuary, in July and October 2009. Model calculations showed that the main prey for the fish species in the Tejo estuary used mostly salt marsh-derived organic matter as nutritional sources, with no marked differences between the sampled months. Trophic levels of fish species from the same estuary differed at multiple scales: inter-species, seasonally and spatially (both between and within estuaries). Significant differences in isotopic composition of fish species were more pronounced spatially (between the two sampled areas in the estuary) than seasonally (between sampled months). Trophic relationships in both estuaries demonstrated that organic matter is transferred to higher trophic positions mainly through benthic pathways. This shows the flexibility of these species to share resources and to exploit temporary peaks in prey populations. The present results showed that extensive disturbance in intertidal habitats from both estuaries may potentially change the balance of organic matter in the base of these complex food webs.     

Trophic relationships in the Changjiang River estuarine salt marshes: preliminary investigation from δ13C and δ15N analysis

To obtain information on food web structure in salt marshes of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River Estuary, the δ13C and δ15N values of primary producers and consumers were determined. The mean δ13C values of 31 dominant consumers ranged from -23.13‰ to -14.37‰. Except for several species (Eriocheir sinensis, Sinonovacula constricta and Potamocorbula ustulata), consumers had intermediate δ13C values between those of benthic microalgae and Spartina alterniflora. The mean δ15N values of 31 dominant consumers varie...     

Reproductive and feeding spatial dynamics of the black scabbardfish,Aphanopus carbo Lowe, 1839, in NE Atlantic inferred from fatty acid and stable isotope analyses

The black scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo) is a benthopelagic species widely distributed across the NE Atlantic, where it is admitted to perform a clockwise migration throughout its life cycle stimulated by feeding and reproduction. To overcome the limitations of direct observation of this species, fatty acids profile (FA) and δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C stable isotopes (SI) were analyzed in the muscle tissue of the black scabbardfish and related with diet and maturity. Specimens were collected in four geographic areas in the NE Atlantic: Iceland, the west of the British Isles, mainland Portugal, and Madeira. For all areas, the FA profile was related with the different phases of the reproductive cycle and with diet, whereas the SI were related with diet, environmental characteristics, such as latitude and depth, and particulate organic matter (POM). Stomach content of black scabbardfish caught off mainland Portugal was analyzed and the most frequent prey item identified was the lophogastrid crustacean Gnathophausia zoea, followed by the cephalopod Mastigotheutis spp. and the teleost Rouleina maderensis. For specimens from Iceland and the west of the British Isles, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were the most important FA, followed by polyunsaturated (PUFA) and saturated FA (SFA), whereas for specimens from mainland Portugal and from Madeira the sequences were PUFA>MUFA>SFA and PUFA>SFA>MUFA, respectively. Immature specimens from the first three areas were found to be accumulating oleic acid which is an intermediate product of the metabolic pathway that transforms SFA to MUFA and these into PUFA. Specimens caught off Madeira were mature and showed a significant prevalence of ARA and DHA which are PUFA with an important role in reproduction. δ¹⁵N was significantly higher in the muscle of black scabbardfish from Madeira, whereas δ¹³C was significantly lower in specimens from Iceland. The low isotopic ratios as well as the prevalence of certain fatty acid trophic markers (FATM) connected specimens from Iceland with small prey. Results indicated that the spatial differences in physiological aspects of this species are related with diet and prey availability in Madeira, mainland Portugal, and the west of the British Isles, as well as variations in the baseline values of the primary production that are related with latitude and depth, mainly in Iceland. The allometric effect of each area׳s size ranges over δ¹⁵N supports the existence of ontogenic differences in the black scabbardfish׳s diet. This diet is typical of mobile benthopelagic predators that are opportunistic feeders.     

Food web structure of two Mediterranean lagoons under varying degree of eutrophication

The food web structure and functioning of two north-western Mediterranean lagoons exhibiting contrasting degrees of eutrophication and marine influences were compared through δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N analysis of major potential food sources and consumers. The Lapalme Lagoon is well preserved and has kept a natural and temporary connection with the open sea. Conversely, the Canet Lagoon is heavily eutrophicated and its water exchange with the open sea has been artificially reduced. In Lapalme, all potential food sources and consumers exhibited δ¹⁵N values indicative of pristine coastal areas. Suspended particulate organic matter (POM) and sediment organic matter (SOM) pools seemed to constitute the main food sources of most primary consumers. Both primary producers and all consumers were much more ¹⁵N-enriched (by  10‰) and more ¹³C-depleted in Canet than in Lapalme. This reflected: (1) the assimilation of important amounts of anthropogenic nitrogen in the food web, and (2) a marked and uniform influence of ¹³C-depleted allochtonous sources of carbon. Based on the mean δ¹⁵N of primary consumers, we found rather similar food web lengths in both lagoons with top consumers at trophic levels 3.6 and 4.0 in Canet and Lapalme, respectively. However, the eutrophication of the Canet Lagoon resulted in a simplification of the food web structure (i.e., a single trophic pathway from a ¹⁵N-enriched fraction of the SOM pool to top predators) compared to what was observed in Lapalme Lagoon where additional ¹³C-enriched food sources played a significant trophic role. Moreover, some consumers of Canet tended to exploit primary producers to a larger extent (and thus to exhibit lower trophic levels) than in Lapalme.     

The Effect of Temporal Changes and Environmental Trophic Condition on the Isotopic Composition (ω13C and ω15N) of Atherina boyeri (Risso, 1810) and Gobius niger (L., 1758) in a Mediterranean Coastal Lagoon (Lake of Sabaudia): Implications for Food Web Structure

Abstract. ω¹³C and ω¹⁵N of organic matter sources and consumers were employed to analyse trophic differentiation between a benthic consumer, Gobius niger (L., 1758) (Pisces, Osteichthyes), and a pelagic consumer, Atherina boyeri (Risso, 1810) (Pisces, Osteichthyes) in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon (Lake of Sabaudia) in winter and summer 1999. Trophic differences between the two species throughout the two sampling periods were related to the environmental trophic condition (i. e. nutrient and phytopigment concentrations). Although these two fish have different habitats, they both exploited benthic organisms, above all in summer. When the nutrient and phytopigment concentrations were higher (summer), the most abundant benthic organisms were the main food sources for both species. In winter A. boyeri apparently shifted its feeding preferences to include zooplankton, confirming its opportunistic feeding strategy. Par-ticulate organic matter and algae seemed to play the main trophic role in the food web structure. Benthic invertebrates used both sources, while zooplankton seemed to rely exclusively on the particulate fraction. The overlapping and very depleted signatures of sedimentary and particulate organic matter highlights a strong link between sediments and water column, rarely observed in other aquatic ecosystems using stable isotopes. Such a finding further substantiates the importance of particulate organic matter as a food source in the study area.     

脂肪酸标志物在海洋生态系统营养关系研究中的应用

脂肪酸在食物链传递过程中相对保守,可以作为标志物示踪研究海洋生物间的营养关系.脂肪酸标志物属于营养学标志物的一种,是海洋生态系统营养关系研究中很有发展前景的分析方法之一.总结概括了目前国际上应用较广泛的脂肪酸标志及脂肪酸标志体系的建立过程、近年来脂肪酸标志物在海洋生态系统营养关系研究中的应用领域,展望了脂肪酸标志法的应...     

Fatty acid composition of phytoplankton, settling particulate matter and sediments at a sheltered bivalve aquaculture site

Fatty acid biomarkers were used to investigate the biogeochemistry of a former blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) aquaculture site in a shallow, sheltered cove in northeastern Newfoundland. High levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in net-tow and sediment trap samples indicated a substantial phytoplankton source of organic matter, and fluctuations in specific fatty acid biomarkers reflected the changing abundances of diatoms and dinoflagellates. In comparison, sediments contained very low levels of PUFA (<15%) and were dominated by terrestrial and bacterial markers. In a separate study, blue mussels were grown at this closed site, providing the opportunity to examine the relationship between lipid supply, as recorded by net-tow and trap samples, and bivalve requirements. The average plankton fatty acid composition throughout the year agreed well with that of the adult blue mussels, suggesting that fatty acids were provided in proportions very similar to the bivalves' requirements. The fatty acid composition of the blue mussels was typical of those collected elsewhere, with PUFA proportions near 50%. However, examination of fatty acid data of plankton sampled in other areas revealed that the plankton in the current study may have been unusual in providing fatty acids at levels required by the bivalves.     

褐菖鲉(Sebastiscus marmoratus)受精卵以及仔鱼期氨基酸与脂肪酸变化研究

为研究褐菖鲉(Sebastiscus marmoratus)发育早期氨基酸和脂肪酸的组成及变化规律,采用GC/MS法等方法分析了褐菖鲉的受精卵、初产仔鱼、前仔鱼期和后仔鱼期四个阶段的氨基酸和脂肪酸组成特点及其含量变化。结果表明:(1)总氨基酸含量从受精卵至初产仔鱼显著下降、前仔鱼期又显著回升、至后仔鱼期再次呈显著下降(P0.05);(2)总游离氨基酸量以初产仔鱼最高,是受精卵的10倍,各期的游离氨基酸占总氨基酸比值为1.4%—20.0%;(3)受精卵中以DHA、C16:0两者实际含量最高,分别为104.88 mg/g和68.74 mg/g,C18:1n-9和EPA次之,分别为41.23 mg/g和27.23 mg/g;(4)褐菖鲉内源性营养阶段被选择性消耗的主要脂肪酸依次为C16:0C18:1EPADHAARA,就脂肪酸的利用率而言MUFASFAPUFA;(5)褐菖鲉仔鱼在开口后的外源营养阶段对脂肪酸的利用率为PUFASFAMUFA,其中DHA相对EPA和ARA被选择性消耗。研究表明,褐菖鲉受精卵的游离氨基酸/总氨基酸比值符合海水鱼类沉性卵的特征,褐菖鲉在早期发育不同阶段对脂肪酸消耗具有不同的选择性,C16:1、C16:0、C18:0和C18:1是褐菖鲉早期发育的主要能源物质,在褐菖鲉开口饵料中添加一定水平的异亮氨酸、亮氨酸、酪氨酸等氨基酸及高度不饱和脂肪酸DHA等是十分必要的。     

基于脂肪酸标记法和碳氮稳定同位素比值法的东海水母常见种的食性分析

采用脂肪酸标记法和碳氮稳定同位素比值法研究了东海6个水母常见种的食性。结果表明,6种水母的总脂肪酸含量都不高,说明作为饵料,水母不能够给捕食者提供较多的脂类营养物质。蝶水母(Ocyropsis crystallina)、瓜水母(Bero cucumis)和四叶小舌水母(Liriope tetraphylla)的脂肪酸组成较为相近,它们更多地通过捕食食物链获得有机质。同时,这几种小型水母摄食浮游植物(主要是硅藻和甲藻)比其它几种水母多;另外,它们对植食性桡足类也有一定的摄食。4月份墨绿多管水母(Aequorea coerulescens)主要通过腐生食物链获取有机质;另外,其对植食性桡足类也有一定的摄食。双生水母(Diphyidae spp.)参与腐生食物链也较多;另外,20:1+22:1含量较低指示了其对植食性桡足类几乎不摄食。蝶水母、瓜水母、四叶小舌水母和沙海蜇(Nemopilema nomurai)的δ13C更接近于陆源的C4植物的δ13C,说明其受陆源影响较大。δ15N特征结果表明,蝶水母、瓜水母和四叶小舌水母(Liriope tetraphylla)在浮游食物网中均处于较高营养级,沙海蜇虽个体较大,但由于其摄食器官较小,故其与这3种小型水母的营养地位相近。并且相对于其它几种水母,沙海蜇细菌脂肪酸标记更为明显。     

Long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids as biomarkers for the dispersal of organic waste from a fish enclosure

Sedimentation of food particles and fecal pellets under fish pens can lead to organic enrichment of the sediment. This study looked at the potential of lipid biomarkers as an indicator for the dispersal of organic waste from a fish enclosure. The lipid class and fatty acid composition of settling particles collected by sediment traps on a transect away from a cod enclosure was determined. The proportions of free fatty acids and of three long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids close to the fish pens were significantly higher (p<0.05) than before the fish enclosure was in operation and decreased moving away from the pens. This indicated a higher contribution of feces and/or uneaten feed to the settling particles at this location. Free fatty acids are the major lipid class in feces. Long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids are abundant in the feed and are also found in high proportions in feces because of their lower digestibility compared to other fatty acids.     

Food web structure within kelp holdfasts (Laminaria): a stable isotope study

Kelp holdfasts are highly reticulated structures which host a large diversity of small fauna. These microhabitats have been reported to play a crucial role in the biodiversity associated to kelp forest ecosystems. This study aimed at identifying trophic links and the main food sources sustaining food webs within communities associated with kelp holdfasts, through a stable isotope (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) approach. Sampling of the main invertebrates inhabiting Laminaria digitata holdfasts, and of their potential food sources, took place in February and May 2007. Stable isotope results reveal that most of the primary consumers, including filter-feeders and deposit-feeders, rely on the particulate organic matter sedimented within kelp holdfasts. Only three grazers departed from this general pattern. The correspondence between the stable isotope ratios of predators and sediment consumers indicated that this source is at the base of the main pathway through which energy and matter transit in the food web. δ¹⁵N ranges found for consumers revealed that the food web associated with kelp holdfasts is composed of 3.5 levels. In spite of the low diversity of food sources at the base of the food web, these microhabitats can therefore be considered micro-scale ecosystems, from a functional perspective.