Selective assimilation by deposit feeders: Experimental evidence using stable isotope ratios

Doi, Hideyuki; Kikuchi, Eisuke; Takagi, Shigeto; Shikano, Shuichi

doi:10.1016/j.baae.2005.04.011

Cited by 34 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…While it is possible that these organisms use some completely separate, low δ 13 C resource not associated with the benthos (as suggested above for odonates preying on zooplankton), this explanation seems unlikely for consumers such as chironomids that are tied more tightly to the benthos by their foraging styles and limited mobility. Instead, the low δ 13 C of these organisms probably indicates selective assimilation of some 13 C‐depleted component of the sediment OM (Doi et al. , 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Support of benthic invertebrates by detrital resources and current autochthonous primary production: results from a whole‐lake ¹³C addition

et al. 2007

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1. Secondary production of benthic invertebrates in lakes is supported by current autochthonous primary production, and by detritus derived from a combination of terrestrial inputs and old autochthonous production from prior seasons. We quantified the importance of these two resources for the dominant benthic insects in Crampton Lake, a 26 ha, clear-water system. 2. Daily additions of NaH 13 CO 3 to the lake caused an increase in the stable carbon isotope ratios (d 13 C) of the current primary production of phytoplankton and periphyton. We measured the response of four insect groups (taxon-depth combinations) to this manipulation, quantifying their current autochthony (% reliance on current autochthonous primary production) by fitting dynamic mixing models to time series of insect d 13 C. 3. The d 13 C of all four groups increased in response to the manipulation, although the magnitude of response differed by taxon and by depth, indicating differences in current autochthony. Odonate larvae (Libellulidae and Corduliidae) collected at 1.5 m depth derived 75% of their C from current autochthonous primary production. Chironomid larvae collected at 1.5, 3.5 and 10 m depths derived, respectively, 43%, 39% and 17% of their C from current autochthonous primary production. 4. Both taxon-specific diet preferences and depth-specific differences in resource availability may contribute to differences in current autochthony. Our results demonstrate significant but incomplete support of insect production by current autochthony, and indicate that allochthonous inputs and old autochthonous detritus support a substantial fraction (25-83%) of insect production.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Support of benthic invertebrates by detrital resources and current autochthonous primary production: results from a whole‐lake ¹³C addition

et al. 2007

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“…Indeed, Vander Zanden et al (2006) found that benthic microalgal and benthic invertebrate production decrease with water depth. Doi et al (2006) suggested that the food sources for benthic invertebrates shift from benthic algae to deposited phytoplankton with increasing water depth. Thus, the light condition of the habitat is an important factor determining the contribution of benthic algal production to consumers in the habitat.…”

Section: Light Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In shallow benthic habitats, benthic microalgae are the dominant resource, and allochthonous inputs include terrestrial matter and sinking phytoplankton from the epilimnion (Covich et al 1999;Yoshii 1999;Doi et al 2006). The contribution of settling phytoplankton to benthic invertebrates increases with increasing water depth (e.g., Doi et al 2006), and allochthonous sources, mainly pelagic production, become the dominant resource in benthic food webs below the light compensation depth. (Allan and Castillo 2007).…”

Section: Lake Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial patterns of autochthonous and allochthonous resources in aquatic food webs

Doi

2008

Population Ecology

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Although ecologists have recognized the importance of spatial structure within food webs, this aspect of ecosystems remains difficult to characterize quantitatively. Stable-isotope techniques have recently been used to provide evidence of spatial structure within aquatic food webs. Here, I review current literature on spatial patterns of autochthonous and allochthonous resources in aquatic food webs in lakes and rivers. Across various habitats and ecosystems, the factors determining the major resources of aquatic food webs are primarily phytoplanktonic productivity, benthic algal productivity, and amount of subsidization from terrestrial habitats. Autochthonous and allochthonous resource availability in food webs shifts with gradients in water depth, nutrient concentrations, degree of canopy cover, and distance from terrestrial habitats. Size of lake and river ecosystem (i.e., lake volume and stream width) also affects the relative contribution of the resources to the food webs, as this factor determines the system primary productivity and linkage to terrestrial habitats. Human activities have fragmented river and lake ecosystems and have subsequently modified the structure of aquatic food webs. The responses of food webs to anthropogenic effects differ across ecosystems, and stable isotope techniques can help to quantitatively assess the effects of human impacts on aquatic food webs.

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“…At lower latitudes, delta values of carbon stable isotopes in larval chironomids are often more negative in offshore, deeper waters relative to the shoreline (Vander Zanden and Rasmussen 1999;Hershey et al 2006;Syväranta et al 2006;Jones et al 2008). These patterns have been related to a different diet in profundal zones, shifting from littoral benthic algae to the consumption of methanogenic bacteria (Jones et al 2008) or phytoplankton biomass that has settled from the water column (Doi et al 2006;Premke et al 2010). For polar desert lakes, we hypothesized that the MMHg concentrations of chironomid larvae may be influenced by water depth preference due to variation in diet (i.e., littoral benthic algae vs. phytoplankton and methanogenic bacteria) or to differences in MMHg exposure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological determinants of methylmercury bioaccumulation in benthic invertebrates of polar desert lakes

et al. 2014

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We investigated concentrations of monomethylmercury (MMHg) at the base of benthic food webs in six lakes from polar desert (biologically poor and low annual precipitation) on Cornwallis Island (Nunavut, Canada, *75°N latitude). Anthropogenic mercury emissions reach the Arctic by long-range atmospheric transport, and information is lacking on processes controlling MMHg entry into these simple lake food webs, despite their importance in determining transfer to lake-dwelling Arctic char. We examined the influences of diet (using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes), water depth, and taxonomic composition on MMHg bioaccumulation in benthic invertebrates (Chironomidae and Trichoptera). We also estimated MMHg biomagnification between benthic algae and invertebrates. Similar MMHg concentrations of chironomid larvae in nearshore and offshore zones suggest that benthic MMHg exposure was homogeneous within the lakes. Chironomid d 13 C values were also similar in both depth zones, suggesting that diet items with highly negative d 13 C, specifically methanogenic bacteria and planktonic organic matter, were not important food (and therefore mercury) sources for profundal larvae. MMHg concentrations were significantly different among two subfamilies of chironomids (Diamesinae, Chironominae) and Trichoptera. Higher MMHg concentrations in Diamesinae were likely related to predation on other chironomids. We found high MMHg biomagnification between benthic algae and chironomid larvae compared with literature estimates for aquatic ecosystems at lower latitudes; thus, benthic processes may affect the sensitivity of polar desert lakes to mercury. Information on benthic MMHg exposure is important for evaluating and tracking impacts of atmospheric mercury deposition and environmental change in this remote High Arctic environment.

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Selective assimilation by deposit feeders: Experimental evidence using stable isotope ratios

Cited by 34 publications

References 18 publications

Support of benthic invertebrates by detrital resources and current autochthonous primary production: results from a whole‐lake ¹³C addition

Support of benthic invertebrates by detrital resources and current autochthonous primary production: results from a whole‐lake ¹³C addition

Spatial patterns of autochthonous and allochthonous resources in aquatic food webs

Ecological determinants of methylmercury bioaccumulation in benthic invertebrates of polar desert lakes

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Selective assimilation by deposit feeders: Experimental evidence using stable isotope ratios

Cited by 34 publications

References 18 publications

Support of benthic invertebrates by detrital resources and current autochthonous primary production: results from a whole‐lake 13C addition

Support of benthic invertebrates by detrital resources and current autochthonous primary production: results from a whole‐lake 13C addition

Spatial patterns of autochthonous and allochthonous resources in aquatic food webs

Ecological determinants of methylmercury bioaccumulation in benthic invertebrates of polar desert lakes

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Support of benthic invertebrates by detrital resources and current autochthonous primary production: results from a whole‐lake ¹³C addition

Support of benthic invertebrates by detrital resources and current autochthonous primary production: results from a whole‐lake ¹³C addition