Mangrove and mudflat food webs are segregated across four trophic levels, yet connected by highly mobile top predators
Seascape connectivity is crucial for healthy, resilient ecosystems and fisheries. Yet, our understanding of connectivity in turbid mangrove-lined estuaries—some of the world’s most productive ecosystems—is limited to macrotidal systems, and rarely incorporates highly mobile top predators. We analyse...
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ftchesteruniv:oai:chesterrep.openrepository.com:10034/623105 2023-05-15T18:50:56+02:00 Mangrove and mudflat food webs are segregated across four trophic levels, yet connected by highly mobile top predators Marley, Guy Lawrence, Andrew Phillip, Dawn Hayden, Brian Canadian Rivers Institute 2020-01-22 http://hdl.handle.net/10034/623105 https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13131 unknown Inter Research https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v632/p13-25 Marley, G., Lawrence, A., Philip, D. A. & Hayden, B. (2019). Mangrove and mudflat food webs are segregated across four trophic levels, yet connected by highly mobile top predators. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 632, 13-25. doi:10.3354/meps13131 http://hdl.handle.net/10034/623105 1616-1599 Marine Ecology Progress Series https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ CC-BY-NC-ND Estuary Stable Isotope Seascape Connectivity Food Web Mixing Model Article 2020 ftchesteruniv https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13131 2022-03-02T19:58:06Z Seascape connectivity is crucial for healthy, resilient ecosystems and fisheries. Yet, our understanding of connectivity in turbid mangrove-lined estuaries—some of the world’s most productive ecosystems—is limited to macrotidal systems, and rarely incorporates highly mobile top predators. We analysed δ13C and δ15N isotope values of 7 primary producers, 24 invertebrate taxa, 13 fishes, 4 birds and 1 reptile to reveal trophic interactions within and between a mangrove and adjacent mudflat in a microtidal system of the Gulf of Paria, Orinoco River estuary. Primary producers, invertebrates and fishes collected within the mangrove were significantly depleted in 13C and 15N compared to those collected on the mudflat. Stable isotope mixing models showed that mangrove-derived carbon was predominantly assimilated by invertebrates (78 ± 5% SE) and fishes (88 ± 11%) sampled in the mangrove. In contrast, invertebrates and fishes sampled in the mudflat derived <21% of their carbon from mangrove sources. Instead, microphytobenthos and phytoplankton underpinned the mudflat food web. Scarlet ibis Eudocimus ruber and yellow-crowned night heron Nyctanassa violacea were also highly associated with mangrove carbon sources. However, osprey Pandion haliaetus, snowy egret Egretta thula and spectacled caiman Caiman crocodilus obtained carbon from both mangrove and mudflat sources, effectively integrating the food webs. The present study demonstrates simultaneous aspects of food web segregation and connectivity, as well as the importance of surveying the entire food web across a range of tidal systems when investigating seascape connectivity. Article in Journal/Newspaper osprey Pandion haliaetus University of Chester: Chester Digital Repository Marine Ecology Progress Series 632 13 25 |
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Open Polar |
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University of Chester: Chester Digital Repository |
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ftchesteruniv |
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unknown |
topic |
Estuary Stable Isotope Seascape Connectivity Food Web Mixing Model |
spellingShingle |
Estuary Stable Isotope Seascape Connectivity Food Web Mixing Model Marley, Guy Lawrence, Andrew Phillip, Dawn Hayden, Brian Mangrove and mudflat food webs are segregated across four trophic levels, yet connected by highly mobile top predators |
topic_facet |
Estuary Stable Isotope Seascape Connectivity Food Web Mixing Model |
description |
Seascape connectivity is crucial for healthy, resilient ecosystems and fisheries. Yet, our understanding of connectivity in turbid mangrove-lined estuaries—some of the world’s most productive ecosystems—is limited to macrotidal systems, and rarely incorporates highly mobile top predators. We analysed δ13C and δ15N isotope values of 7 primary producers, 24 invertebrate taxa, 13 fishes, 4 birds and 1 reptile to reveal trophic interactions within and between a mangrove and adjacent mudflat in a microtidal system of the Gulf of Paria, Orinoco River estuary. Primary producers, invertebrates and fishes collected within the mangrove were significantly depleted in 13C and 15N compared to those collected on the mudflat. Stable isotope mixing models showed that mangrove-derived carbon was predominantly assimilated by invertebrates (78 ± 5% SE) and fishes (88 ± 11%) sampled in the mangrove. In contrast, invertebrates and fishes sampled in the mudflat derived <21% of their carbon from mangrove sources. Instead, microphytobenthos and phytoplankton underpinned the mudflat food web. Scarlet ibis Eudocimus ruber and yellow-crowned night heron Nyctanassa violacea were also highly associated with mangrove carbon sources. However, osprey Pandion haliaetus, snowy egret Egretta thula and spectacled caiman Caiman crocodilus obtained carbon from both mangrove and mudflat sources, effectively integrating the food webs. The present study demonstrates simultaneous aspects of food web segregation and connectivity, as well as the importance of surveying the entire food web across a range of tidal systems when investigating seascape connectivity. |
author2 |
Canadian Rivers Institute |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Marley, Guy Lawrence, Andrew Phillip, Dawn Hayden, Brian |
author_facet |
Marley, Guy Lawrence, Andrew Phillip, Dawn Hayden, Brian |
author_sort |
Marley, Guy |
title |
Mangrove and mudflat food webs are segregated across four trophic levels, yet connected by highly mobile top predators |
title_short |
Mangrove and mudflat food webs are segregated across four trophic levels, yet connected by highly mobile top predators |
title_full |
Mangrove and mudflat food webs are segregated across four trophic levels, yet connected by highly mobile top predators |
title_fullStr |
Mangrove and mudflat food webs are segregated across four trophic levels, yet connected by highly mobile top predators |
title_full_unstemmed |
Mangrove and mudflat food webs are segregated across four trophic levels, yet connected by highly mobile top predators |
title_sort |
mangrove and mudflat food webs are segregated across four trophic levels, yet connected by highly mobile top predators |
publisher |
Inter Research |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10034/623105 https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13131 |
genre |
osprey Pandion haliaetus |
genre_facet |
osprey Pandion haliaetus |
op_relation |
https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v632/p13-25 Marley, G., Lawrence, A., Philip, D. A. & Hayden, B. (2019). Mangrove and mudflat food webs are segregated across four trophic levels, yet connected by highly mobile top predators. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 632, 13-25. doi:10.3354/meps13131 http://hdl.handle.net/10034/623105 1616-1599 Marine Ecology Progress Series |
op_rights |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ |
op_rightsnorm |
CC-BY-NC-ND |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13131 |
container_title |
Marine Ecology Progress Series |
container_volume |
632 |
container_start_page |
13 |
op_container_end_page |
25 |
_version_ |
1766244710109675520 |