Stable isotope fractionation of fatty acids of Daphnia fed laboratory cultures of microalgae

We tested a comparatively new method of tracing of natural food webs, compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) of fatty acids (FA), using laboratory culture of Daphnia galeata fed Chlorella vulgaris and Cryptomonas sp. In general, Daphnia had significantly lighter carbon stable isotope composition of most fatty acids, including essential, than those of their food, microalgae. Thus, our results did not support the pivotal premise of the FA-CSIA application for food web analysis, i.e., transmitting the isotope ‘signal’ of essential FAs to consumers from their food without any modification. Moreover, the values of isotope fractionation of particular FAs in the consumer relative to its food were not constant, but varied from 1.35‰ to 7.04‰. The different isotope fractionation (depletion) values of diverse FAs in consumer were probably caused by different processes of their synthesis, catabolism and assimilation. More work is evidently to be done for correct interpretation of results of FA-CSIA during field studies for tracing of natural food webs.     

Difference of mercury bioaccumulation in red mullets from the north-western Mediterranean and Black seas

The relationships between total mercury (Hg) concentration and stable nitrogen isotope ratio (δ¹⁵N) were evaluated in Mullus barbatus barbatus and M. surmuletus from the Mediterranean Sea and M. barbatus ponticus from the Black Sea. Mercury concentration in fish muscle was six times higher in the two Mediterranean species than in the Black Sea one for similar sized animals. A positive correlation between Hg concentration and δ¹⁵N occurred in all species. Increase in Hg concentration with δ¹⁵N was high and similar in the two Mediterranean fishes and much lower in the Black Sea species. Since this was neither related to trophic level difference between species nor to methylmercury (MeHg) concentration differences between the north-western Mediterranean and the Black Sea waters, we suggested that the higher primary production of the Black Sea induced a dilution of MeHg concentration at the base of the food webs.     

Biomagnification profiles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, alkylphenols and polychlorinated biphenyls in Tokyo Bay elucidated by δC and δN isotope ratios as guides to trophic web structure

Biomagnification profiles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), alkylphenols, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from the innermost part of Tokyo Bay, Japan were analyzed using stable carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) isotope ratios as guides to trophic web structure. δ¹⁵N analysis indicated that all species of mollusks tested were primary consumers, while decapods and fish were secondary consumers. Higher concentrations of PCBs occurred in decapods and fish than in mollusks. In contrast, concentrations of PAHs and alkylphenols were lower in decapods and fish than in mollusks. Unlike PCBs, whose concentrations largely increased with increasing δ¹⁵N (i.e. increasing trophic level), all PAHs and alkylphenols analyzed followed a reverse trend. Molecular weights of PAHs are lower than those of PCBs, therefore low membrane permeability caused by large molecular size is an unlikely factor in the “biodilution” of PAHs. Organisms at higher trophic levels may rapidly metabolize PAHs or they may assimilate less of them.     

Mercury biomagnification in a contaminated estuary food web: Effects of age and trophic position using stable isotope analyses

The main aim of this study was to ascertain the biomagnification processes in a mercury-contaminated estuary, by clarifying the trophic web structure through stable isotope ratios. For this purpose, primary producers (seagrasses and macroalgae), invertebrates (detritivores and benthic predators) and fish were analysed for total and organic mercury and for stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic signatures. Trophic structure was accurately described by δ¹⁵N, while δ¹³C reflected the carbon source for each species. An increase of mercury levels was observed with trophic level, particularly for organic mercury. Results confirm mercury biomagnification to occur in this estuarine food web, especially in the organic form, both in absolute concentrations and fraction of total mercury load. Age can be considered an important variable in mercury biomagnification studies, and data adjustments to account for the different exposure periods may be necessary for a correct assessment of trophic magnification rates and ecological risk.     

Bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in a marine food web from Liaodong Bay,North China

The concentrations of 21 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) congeners were analyzed in organisms within a marine food web collected from the Liaodong Bay, North China. The total concentrations of PBDEs in all samples ranged from 0.87 to 91.4 ng g⁻¹ lipid weight (lw). BDE-47 was the predominant congener and had a concentration ranging from 0.30 to 36.1 ng g⁻¹ lw. The trophic magnification factors (TMF) of the PBDEs were calculated using the trophic levels obtained from the stable nitrogen isotope ratios. The TMF value of ∑PBDEs was 3.50 for the entire food web and 2.21 for the food web excluding seabirds. Four concentration ratios, BDE-99/BDE-100, BDE-99/BDE-47, BDE-153/BDE-154 and BDE-183/BDE-154, decreased linearly with the increase of the trophic levels in the invertebrates and the fishes (p < 0.01). The results suggested that the PBDEs were steadily metabolized in the trophic transfer process along the food chain.     

Species loss in the brown world: are heterotrophic systems inherently stable?

Determining the effects of species loss on ecosystems has received considerable attention given the current threats many ecosystems are facing. A significant body of research has yielded many insights to this question, but this work has been limited by a focus on ecosystems where primary production plays a significant role in energy transfer. As many ecosystems rely on energy sources that are not derived from in situ production, there is a need to better understand how species loss will affect ecosystems of varying trophic states. To examine the effects of species loss on an ecosystem that is not reliant on in situ primary production, we manipulated the larval amphibian community of temporary forest ponds. These ponds are heterotrophic systems that rely on allochthonous inputs of detritus as a basal energy source. The larvae of two amphibian species that are prone to local extinction, wood frogs (Lithobates sylvatica) and spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum), were removed from ponds and net ecosystem production was monitored. We found no effects of the removal of these top consumers on ecosystem functioning or on lower trophic groups (i.e., zooplankton, algae, bacteria). While amphibians can influence food web dynamics in other systems, their influence on system processes in temporary forest ponds appears to be limited. We hypothesize that the lack of any effects is due to the microbial degradation of detritus ??swamping?? the system, providing more than enough energy to maintain the food web, and/or due to omnivory dampening species interactions. These data indicate that the functioning of heterotrophic systems may be inherently stable due to internal dynamics that minimize interaction strengths among trophic groups.     

Trophic scaling of Percichthys trucha (Percichthyidae) in monospecific and multispecific lakes in western Patagonia

Percichthys trucha is a freshwater fish, endemic to southern South America and widely distributed in both, eastern and western sides of the Andes. P. trucha has been described as top native predator in lacustrine ecosystems, experimenting diet shifting during their life history development. Salmonid invasions have impacted their natural ecology through trophic niche interference and predation over alternative high quality prey. This study focuses on populations of P. trucha in western Patagonia, where its trophic ecology have been less understood. We hypothesised a diet shift between juveniles and adults from lower-trophic position prey towards higher-trophic position prey. Fish were collected from 7 lakes belonging to Puelo and Baker river basins, covering a high diversity of environmental conditions. Stomach content and δ¹⁵N stable isotope ratio of muscle tissues of 313 individuals were analysed. Results indicate significant differences in diet between juveniles and adults, shifting from planktonic/benthic preys towards benthic/piscivory, and concomitantly enrichment in heavier nitrogen isotope suggest trophic scaling. No trophic scaling was observed in populations inhabiting lakes with any other fish species present, essentially due to lack of Galaxias sp. as available prey and absence of cannibalism. Despite the fact that P. trucha and Galaxias sp. co-occur in studied river basins, no salmonid-free lakes harbouring this two native species were found, making it difficult to elucidate exact effects of salmonids on trophic scaling of P. trucha. Consumption of aquatic Odonata nymphs, however, arises as one of potential key mechanism for resilience of native food webs to salmonid invasion.     

Seasonal variation of microzooplankton (20–200 μm) and its possible implications on the vertical carbon flux in the western Bay of Bengal

Stratification (throughout the year) and low solar radiation (during monsoon periods) have caused low chlorophyll a and primary production (seasonal average 13–18 mg m⁻² and 242–265 mg C m⁻² d⁻¹, respectively) in the western Bay of Bengal (BoB). The microzooplankton (MZP) community of BoB was numerically dominated by heterotrophic dinoflagellates (HDS) followed by ciliates (CTS). The highest MZP abundance (average 665±226×10⁴ m⁻²), biomass (average 260±145 mg C m⁻²) and species diversity (Shannon weaver index 2.8±0.42 for CTS and 2.6±0.35 for HDS) have occurred during the spring intermonsoon (SIM). This might be due to high abundance of smaller phytoplankton in the western BoB during SIM as a consequence of intense stratification and nitrate limitation (nitracline at 60 m depth). The strong stratification during SIM was biologically evidenced by intense blooms of Trichodesmium erythraeum and frequent Synechococcus–HDS associations. The high abundance of smaller phytoplankton favors microbial food webs where photosynthetic carbon is channeled to higher trophic levels through MZP. This causes less efficient transfer of primary organic carbon to higher trophic levels than through the traditional food web. The microbial food web dominant in the western BoB during SIM might be responsible for the lowest mesozooplankton biomass observed (average 223 mg C m⁻²). The long residence time of the organic carbon in the surface waters due to the active herbivorous pathways of the microbial food web could be a causative factor for the low vertical flux of biogenic carbon during SIM.     

Altered energy flow pathways in a lake ecosystem following manipulation of fish community structure

We used carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses to assess the relative contributions from pelagic and littoral energy sources to higher trophic levels in a lake ecosystem before and after a major food web perturbation. The food web structure of the lake was altered when the population sizes of the most abundant fish species (small perch, roach and bream) were reduced during an attempt to improve water quality by biomanipulation. Fish removal was followed by dense year classes of young fish, which subsequently increased the utilisation of pelagic resources. This was reflected as a decrease in relative energy contribution from littoral sources and also led to more distinct pelagic and littoral food chains after fish removal. Community metrics calculated from stable isotope data indicated increased trophic diversity and occupied niche area, and reduced trophic redundancy in the food web. However, only minor changes were observed in fish trophic positions, although roach and pike occupied slightly lower trophic positions after fish removal. Despite the Jyväsjärvi ecosystem becoming more dependent on pelagic energy after fish removals, the littoral energy contribution was still substantial, particularly to certain fish species. Hence, our results support recent arguments for the importance of benthic production in lake ecosystems. More generally, our results illustrate how large-scale perturbations of food web structure can alter energy flow patterns through an entire ecosystem.     

老碳对水生态系统食物网的贡献

传统理论认为,支撑水生态系统食物网的碳主要来自于系统内部的初级生产者,如藻类、大型水生植物等,或者来自陆源输入的新鲜且容易分解的有机质;而部分生物或非生物生产的有机碳,在冰川、冻土等环境中可停留数百年至数千年(定义为老碳),由于储存环境稳定、物理化学性质顽固,难以参与水生生态系统有机碳循环.近年来这一观念不断被挑战.研究表明老碳能够参与水生态系统食物网碳循环:可以被微生物分解利用;被浮游动物、无脊椎动物直接或者间接摄取、或沿着营养级传递至鱼类、水禽等高级消费者.这意味着除了内部初级生产,老碳是支撑水生态系统重要的碳源.本文概述了当前老碳与水生态系统食物网关系研究最新进展和所取得的研究成果,介绍放射性14C同位素技术在水生态学领域的应用,同时提出研究中存在的问题以及未来研究应关注的方向,以期促进我国水生态系统碳循环研究的进一步发展.     

Resource partitioning among cladocerans in a littoral macrophyte zone: implications for the transfer of essential compounds

The maintenance of species diversity in a given environment is strongly linked to resource partitioning. Littoral macrophyte zones are heterogeneous environments with high microcrustacean diversity, where zooplankton have dietary access to seston as well as organisms growing on macrophytic surfaces (epiphyton). We conducted a field study in a macrophyte-rich backwater of the river Allier to examine how seston and epiphyton were used as potential food sources by four dominant cladoceran species. Fatty acids were analyzed in these two food sources to assess how their differential uptake affects the trophic trajectory of essential compounds from these resources to cladocerans. Our results showed resource partitioning among the four cladocerans studied; while Eurycercus fed mostly on epiphyton, Daphnia mostly consumed phytoplankton, and Ceriodaphnia and Simocephalus were able to forage on sestonic and epiphytic resources. Based on their polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content, it was evident that epiphyton was of higher food quality than seston in this macrophyte-rich backwater system. Variability of PUFA compositions of seston and epiphyton, and diversity of foraging strategies of cladoceran species, which represent the major link between microorganisms and consumers at higher trophic levels, affect dietary energy pathways and point to a variable PUFA transfer efficiency in backwater food webs.     

Hydrogen isotope discrimination in aquatic primary producers: implications for aquatic food web studies

Large differences in δ ²H of primary producers between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems are used to identify subsidies, discriminate organic matter sources, and reduce uncertainty in food web studies. Previous investigations of hydrogen isotope ratios suggest there may be predictable differences between the δ ²H of water and organic matter for different types of primary producers. We define the difference in the net isotopic discrimination between water and bulk organic matter (om) as: Δ_H = (δ ²H_om ? δ ²H_water) ÷ (1 + δ ²H_water ÷ 1,000). We summarized Δ_H values from published literature and we measured the δ ²H of water and primary producers in order to compare Δ_H among aquatic and terrestrial primary producers. Measurements were made from three water body types (lake, river, coastal lagoon) and their associated watersheds. Although we predicted a large and equivalent net isotopic discrimination for aquatic primary producers, we found considerable variability among groups of aquatic producers. Macroalgae, benthic microalgae, and phytoplankton had more negative Δ_H values (i.e. greater isotopic discrimination) than both aquatic macrophytes and terrestrial vegetation. The more positive δ ²H_om and hence lower Δ_H of terrestrial vegetation was expected due to relative increases in the heavier isotope, deuterium, during transpiration. However, the more positive values of δ ²H_om and relatively low Δ_H in aquatic macrophytes, even submerged species, was unexpected. Marine macroalgae had high variability in δ ²H_om as a group, but low variability within distinct species. Variability among types of primary producers in δ ²H_om and in Δ_H should be assessed when hydrogen is used in isotopic studies of food webs.     

Stable isotope evidence for the environmental impact of a land-based fish farm in the western Mediterranean

Isotopic examination (delta(13)C and delta(15)N) of organic matter sources and consumers was used to assess the impact and trace the dispersal of wastewater from a land-based fish farm in western Mediterranean. The results provide evidence of the non-negligible effect of aquaculture facilities on the natural stable isotopic composition of organisms. Aquaculture waste entered the food web, altering the natural isotopic composition of organic matter sources at the base and the upper trophic levels. Nitrogen-rich fish waste mainly affected delta(15)N values, while delta(13)C showed less alteration. Waste seemed to disperse widely enough to affect the isotopic composition at the study site about 500 m from the outfall, while sites at 1 and 2 km from the outfall showed values that were similar to each other and different from those of the impacted site. The impact was detected at different ecosystem levels, although primary producers were more affected by fish farm waste taking up aquaculture-derived nutrients.     

Minimal incorporation of Deepwater Horizon oil by estuarine filter feeders

Natural abundance carbon isotope analyses are sensitive tracers for fates and use of oil in aquatic environments. Use of oil carbon in estuarine food webs should lead to isotope values approaching those of oil itself, −27‰ for stable carbon isotopes reflecting oil origins and −1000‰ for carbon-14 reflecting oil age. To test for transfer of oil from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill into estuarine food webs, filter-feeding barnacles (Balanus sp.) and marsh mussels (Geukensia demissa) were collected from Louisiana estuaries near the site of the oil spill. Carbon-14 analyses of these animals from open waters and oiled marshes showed that oil use was <1% and near detection limits estimated at 0.3% oil incorporation. Respiration studies showed no evidence for enhanced microbial activity in bay waters. Results are consistent with low dietary impacts of oil for filter feeders and little overall impact on respiration in the productive Louisiana estuarine systems.     

氮稳定同位素基准的可变性及对营养级评价的影响

稳定同位素技术已经成为生态学家研究生态系统特征与过程的重要手段之一。在利用稳定同位素研究植物-动物和动物之间的营养关系或者进行多生态系统的比较研究过程中,通常需要选择某种生物的稳定同位素作为"基准(baseline)"。同位素基准的目的是反映食物网生物最初物质来源的同位素特征。同位素基准的选择取决于具体研究问题与系统。本文综述了水域生态系统研究中初级生产者和初级消费者氮稳定同位素作为基准的应用。不同的研究都根据自身所关注的生态学问题对基准进行选择和校正。然而,找到适当的同位素基准取决于同位素基准种内、种间和时空上的同位素变化特征,同时还取决于所关注的生态学问题的时间、空间尺度。本文评估了季节性和种内的同位素变异性对消费者营养级位置的影响。质量平衡模型的计算结果说明同位素基准可变性可以显著影响对消费者营养级位置的评估。     

云南4个湖泊浮游生物碳、氮稳定同位素的季节变化及其影响因子

浮游生物是湖泊食物网的重要组成,其碳、氮稳定同位素能够反映元素地球化学循环和食物来源的波动,是了解水域生态系统结构变化的重要手段之一.本文选取云南4个不同类型湖泊,开展浮游生物碳、氮稳定同位素组成(δ¹³C、δ¹⁵N)的季节变化与湖泊对比研究.大型深水湖泊(抚仙湖和阳宗海)中,浮游植物δ¹³C值在夏、秋季(-20.34‰±1.98‰)显著高于冬、春季(-28.00‰±2.51‰),反映夏秋季藻类生长速率较高、HCO3-无机碳源利用增多等的影响.而小型浅水湖泊(长桥海和大屯海)中浮游植物δ¹³C值在夏季最高(-21.24‰±0.88‰),可能与雨季流域输入增强、陆源有机质占比增加有关.4个湖泊浮游生物δ¹⁵N值具有一致的变化特征,春季显著高于其他季节.分析表明,云南地区雨季以面源污染为主向旱季以点源污染为主的转变,导致氮素营养盐季节性来源差异,并通过生物吸收作用影响了浮游生物δ¹⁵N值的季节变化.在浮游动物与浮游植物的稳定同位素差值(即富集度)方面,营养水平高的小型浅水湖泊中δ¹³C富集度为1.61‰±0.90‰、δ¹⁵N富集度为2.71‰±1.22‰,显著小于营养水平低的大型深水湖泊(分别为2.60‰±0.98‰和4.19‰±1.25‰),表明随着湖泊营养水平的增加,浮游动物更多地以浮游植物为食,导致有机碳在不同营养级之间的传输过程中具有更强的耦合作用,且相邻营养级之间具有更低的δ¹⁵N富集度特征.     

Anthropogenic land-use signals propagate through stream food webs in a California,USA, watershed

Human development of watersheds can change aquatic ecosystems via multiple pathways. For instance, human rural development may add nutrients to ecosystems. We used naturally occurring stable isotopes in stream food webs to investigate how land use affects stream ecosystems across a gradient of land development in the San Lorenzo watershed, California. Road density was used as a proxy for land development. We found that streams in watersheds with higher road densities had elevated concentrations of phosphate and nitrate. Furthermore, algal δ¹⁵N values increased as a function of nitrate concentration, but saturated at approximately 6‰. This saturating pattern was consistent with a two-source mixing model with anthropogenic and watershed sources, fit using Bayesian model fitting. In sites that had >2.6 km roads km⁻², anthropogenic sources of N were estimated to represent >90% of the N pool. This anthropogenic N signal was propagated to stream consumers: rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), signal crayfish (Pacifasticus leniusculus), and benthic invertebrate δ¹⁵N were positively correlated with algal δ¹⁵N. Even relatively low density rural human land use may have substantial impacts on nutrient cycling of stream ecosystems.     

Stable isotope-guided analysis of congener-specific PCB concentrations in a Japanese coastal food web

Organisms collected from a coastal ecosystem in Japan were analyzed for concentrations of 205 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) congeners; analyses were guided by δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N measurements. The regression slopes of log PCB concentration on δ¹⁵N value are regarded as indices of biomagnification in food webs. The slope (wet weight basis) of ΣPCBs was +0.104; the slope (lipid weight basis) was close to zero. Lipid content increased from 0.06% in a primary producer to 8.32% in the highest trophic level consumer. Hence, biomagnification of ΣPCBs (wet weight basis) can be attributed to increase of lipid content through the food web. For most of the congeners, the slopes (wet weight basis) exceeded those (lipid weight basis) by ca. 0.10. Slopes increased with increasing PCB chlorination levels between chlorine numbers 1–6; slopes decreased at higher chlorination levels. This decrease is likely caused by a decrease in membrane permeability with increasing molecular weight.