Dynamics of an estuarine nursery ground: the spatio-temporal relationship between the river flow and the food web of the juvenile common sole (Solea solea, L.) as revealed by stable isotopes analysis

Abstract

Dynamics of an estuarine nursery ground: the spatio-temporal relationship between the river flow and the food web of the juvenile common sole (Solea solea, L.) as revealed by stable isotopes analysis

Trophic ecology of juvenile flatfish in a coastal nursery ground: contributions of intertidal primary production and freshwater particulate organic matter

“…The δ 13 C values for freshwater POM were lower than other organic matter sources, following a well-documented pattern of trophic sources in coastal and estuarine systems (Darnaude et al 2004, Kostecki et al 2010). An increasing δ 13 C of POM from fresh to marine waters was observed, which is consistent with previous studies (Yokoyama & Ishihi 2007).…”

“…This combination of local primary production and freshwater organic matter has already been demonstrated to sustain juvenile flatfish in nursery sectors, especially in estuaries (Darnaude et al 2004, Leakey et al 2008, Pasquaud et al 2008, Vinagre et al 2008, Kostecki et al 2010). The present study provides new insight about the importance of MPB, which is usually considered a subsidiary for juvenile flatfish in estuaries.…”

“…In many estuaries (Vilaine, Rhône, Thames, Gironde, Tagus, and Danube), the influence of river flow on nursery-ground carrying capacity has been established and incorporation of continental organic matter into juvenile-flatfish food webs has been documented (Le Pape et al 2003, Darnaude et al 2004, Leakey et al 2008, Pasquaud et al 2008, Vinagre et al 2008, Banaru & Harmelin-Vivien 2009, Kostecki et al 2010. However, the origin of food sources incorporated into juvenile-flatfish food webs is still not understood in the case of non-estuarine nursery areas.…”

“…1) in August 2008. Benthic diatoms were extracted at the laboratory using the method suggested by Riera & Richard (1996) and described in Kostecki et al (2010).…”

Residence time and habitat duration for predators in a small mid-Atlantic estuary

“…As a result, estuaries are traps for autochthonous and allochthonous nutrients and organic matter from adjacent terrestrial and marine systems (MacCready and Geyer, 2010). Stable isotope studies indicate that estuarine food webs are supported by inputs of freshwater and terrestrial sources of nutrients and organic matter (Kostecki et al, 2010). It is assumed that discharge effects on estuarine hydrodynamics and nutrient transport ultimately concentrate high secondary production of zooplankton in estuarine regions where fresher and saltier waters converge (North and Houde, 2006;Baptista et al, 2010).…”