Annual routines and life history of the amphipod Onisimus litoralis: seasonal growth, body composition and energy budget

Nygård, Henrik; Wallenschus, Jago; Camus, Lionel; Varpe, Øystein; Berge, Jørgen

doi:10.3354/meps08798

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Once reproduction finishes, the lipid content immediately decreases to its former level, which is generally maintained during winter. Nygård et al (2010) reported relatively stable lipid content and no buildup of energy stores prior to winter season in Onisimus litoralis collected in Adventfjorden (Svalbard). This species being omnivorous scavenger may cover metabolic costs by continuous feeding in addition to the proteins consumption.…”

Section: Feeding Ecologymentioning

confidence: 95%

When season does not matter: summer and winter trophic ecology of Arctic amphipods

2012

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Polar marine ecosystems' functioning is known to be strongly affected by the seasonality of water column production. However, a response of benthic organisms may range from close coupling to total decoupling from seasonal variability of environmental processes, depending on a feeding strategy. In this study, we used a multi-method approach (gut content, lipid and stable isotope analyses) to examine trophic ecology and major food sources of a large set of Arctic sub-littoral amphipods, and to evaluate whether their feeding strategies undergo seasonal changes. The wide range of d 15 N values (5.45-12.43%) indicates that amphipods form a trophic continuum from primary herbivores to carnivores/ scavengers. Three main feeding modes, namely scavenging/predatory, deposit-feeding/predatory and phytodetrivory, were distinguished based on the multivariate analysis of whole fatty acid profiles. Total lipid content was low in all species and included primarily short-term energy reserves of triacylglycerols. In general, amphipods feeding habits appeared to be independent of the seasonal phytodetritial pulses. Low reliance on lipid reserves and lack of major changes in the trophic strategies over time suggest that these crustaceans feed continuously, taking advantage of a variety of food sources that are available yearround in shallow polar waters.

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Section: Feeding Ecologymentioning

confidence: 95%

When season does not matter: summer and winter trophic ecology of Arctic amphipods

2012

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“…In contrast, the income breeder relies on energy obtained during the reproductive period rather than stored energy. This concept is based on vertebrate life history, but it has a broad application across all phyla including marine invertebrates (see Varpe et al 2009;Nygård et al 2010). Theoretically, for Arctic benthic organisms with planktotrophic larvae feeding in the water column, the most beneficial timing for reproduction would be just prior to the period of highest food abundance, assuming that the phytoplankton bloom is the primary food source.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonality of occurrence and recruitment of Arctic marine benthic invertebrate larvae in relation to environmental variables

et al. 2013

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The Arctic system is one of the regions most influenced by ongoing global climate change, but there are still critical gaps in our knowledge regarding a substantial number of biological processes. This is especially true for processes taking place during the Arctic winter but also for seasonal processes, such as the dynamics of intra-annual meroplankton occurrence. Here, we report on a 1-year study of meroplankton seasonal variability from a fjordic system in the Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard. The study combines an examination of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and hard bottom benthic settlement with measurements of environmental parameters (e.g., water temperature, particulate organic matter, and dissolved organic carbon).Samples were taken on a bi-weekly or monthly basis, and a total of 11 taxa representing six phyla of meroplankton were recorded over a 1-year period from January to December 2007. The occurrence of benthic larvae varied between the seasons, reaching a maximum in both abundance and taxon richness in late spring through early summer. Meroplanktonic larvae were absent in winter. However, settlement of benthic organisms was also recorded during the winter months (February and March), which indicates individual trade-offs related to timing of reproduction and competition. In addition, it suggests that these larvae are not relying on higher summer nutrient concentrations, but instead are dependent on alternative food sources. In parallel with meroplankton abundance, all other measured parameters, both biological (e.g., phyto-and zooplankton abundance and diversity) and physical (e.g., particulate organic matter), exhibited seasonal variability with peaks in the warmer months of the year.

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“…In a feeding experiment, O. litoralis was found to actively feed on dead zooplankton as well as living zooplankton stranded on the bottom (Lege · zyńska 2001). Based on its lipid dynamics, Nygård et al (2010) concluded that O. litoralis feeds year-round. In Adventfjorden this species seems to feed on the spring bloom, showing an increased content of the diatom marker 16:1 n-7 in summer, while the amount of the marker for carnivory, 18:1 n-9, decreases.…”

Section: Feeding Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The amphipod scavenging guild in two Arctic fjords: seasonal variations, abundance and trophic interactions

Nygård¹,

Berge²,

Søreide³

et al. 2012

Aquat. Biol.

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Scavenging amphipods are important for the circulation and dispersal of organic material in the marine environment. Despite their dominance in the scavenging guild and importance in the food web, little is known about Arctic amphipods and their feeding preferences. We studied the amphipod scavenging guild using baited traps for one full year to increase our understanding of its seasonal variations. Two Arctic fjords with contrasting hydrographical conditions were studied: Adventfjorden, which is influenced by Atlantic water inflow, and Rijpfjorden, which is dominated by cold Arctic water masses. The species composition clearly differed between the 2 fjords. Onisimus caricus, followed by Anonyx laticoxae, were the dominant species in Adventfjorden. In Rijpfjorden, the species diversity was higher, particularly for Anonyx spp. In both fjords, a clear depth zonation in species distribution was detected, with a seasonal dynamic in species composition. A seasonal pattern in catch sizes was observed in both fjords. The timing of this pattern varied, likely because of the climatic differences between the fjords. Lipid content, lipid classes and fatty acid composition were analyzed for A. nugax, O. caricus, O. litoralis, O. nanseni and O. glacialis, and stable isotopes were also analyzed for the all these species except O. glacialis. A clear difference in the fatty acid and stable isotope composition was found among species. O. glacialis and O. litoralis were primarily omnivorous-herbivorous, while the other species were predominantly carnivorous. O. nanseni and A. nugax preyed extensively on calanoid copepods (Calanus spp.) whereas O. caricus did not.

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Annual routines and life history of the amphipod Onisimus litoralis: seasonal growth, body composition and energy budget

Cited by 13 publications

References 51 publications

When season does not matter: summer and winter trophic ecology of Arctic amphipods

When season does not matter: summer and winter trophic ecology of Arctic amphipods

Seasonality of occurrence and recruitment of Arctic marine benthic invertebrate larvae in relation to environmental variables

The amphipod scavenging guild in two Arctic fjords: seasonal variations, abundance and trophic interactions

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