Spatial shifts in food sources for macrozoobenthos in an estuarine ecosystem: Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses

Filter-feeding behavior of three Asian Hediste species (Polychaeta: Nereididae)

“…Stable isotope analyses of Hediste species in southern Korea (Kang et al 2007) and northern Japan (Kikuchi & Wada 1996, Doi et al 2005, Kanaya et al 2008) have revealed that benthic diatoms and sediment organic matter derived mainly from terrestrial plant material constitute the major food sources, with their relative contributions varying among different estuaries and among different sites within an estuary. Kikuchi & Wada (1996) and Kanaya et al (2008) showed that phytoplankton-derived organic matter is also a major carbon source for Hediste species (H. diadroma or H. atoka) in some areas, although only surface deposit feeding was considered in those studies.…”

Variation in food sources of the macrobenthos along a land–sea transect: a stable isotope study

“…Assuming that this hypothesis is true, the number of trophic levels increases from 3 to 4 in the transition from inshore to offshore areas, and the major contributor to the trophic link shifts from BM to PP. Previous isotopic studies that showed systematic landward decreases in δ 13 C and/or δ 15 N for estuarine consumers have suggested a change of food source from algae to terrestrial organic matter (Kikuchi & Wada 1996, Riera & Richard 1996, Doi et al 2005, Kasai & Nakata 2005 or the consumption of PP with differing δ 13 C values, reflecting the source of dissolved inorganic carbon used for photosynthesis (Fry 1999, Piola et al 2006). In our study area, however, such trends were not found, probably due to the more saline environment, where marine-influenced, nutritive primary producers such as PP and BM prevail.…”

δ15N and δ13C reveal differences in carbon flow through estuarine benthic food webs in response to the relative availability of macroalgae and eelgrass

“…The composition of benthic consumer diets may change in relation to the availability, supply and quality of different food sources. Fish and invertebrates have been shown to change diets along a gradient from upper to lower estuary, reflecting changes in the relative contribution of terrestrial and estuarine or marine sources of organic matter (Peterson et al 1985, Deegan & Garritt 1997, Doi et al 2005, Yokoyama & Ishihi 2007. Shifts in the estuarine benthic producer community composition also affect consumer diets, e.g.…”