Patterns in stable isotope values of nitrogen and carbon in particulate matter from the Northwest Atlantic Continental Shelf, from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras
Stable isotope measurements of nitrogen and carbon (δ15N, δ13C) are often used to characterize estuarine, nearshore, and open ocean ecosystems. Reliable information about the spatial distribution of base-level stable isotope values, often represented by primary producers, is critical to interpreting...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:bf459803bea24838a2516be6322b355d 2023-05-15T17:36:46+02:00 Patterns in stable isotope values of nitrogen and carbon in particulate matter from the Northwest Atlantic Continental Shelf, from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras Autumn Oczkowski Betty Kreakie Richard McKinney Jerry Prezioso 2016-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2016.00252 https://doaj.org/article/bf459803bea24838a2516be6322b355d EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmars.2016.00252/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-7745 2296-7745 doi:10.3389/fmars.2016.00252 https://doaj.org/article/bf459803bea24838a2516be6322b355d Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol 3 (2016) Atlantic Ocean Plankton primary production random forest North Atlantic Oscillation Δ13C Science Q General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 article 2016 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2016.00252 2022-12-31T15:11:04Z Stable isotope measurements of nitrogen and carbon (δ15N, δ13C) are often used to characterize estuarine, nearshore, and open ocean ecosystems. Reliable information about the spatial distribution of base-level stable isotope values, often represented by primary producers, is critical to interpreting values in these ecosystems. While base-level isotope data are generally readily available for estuaries, nearshore coastal waters, and the open ocean, the continental shelf is less studied. To address this, and as a first step towards developing a surrogate for base-level isotopic signature in this region, we collected surface and deep water samples from the United States’ eastern continental shelf in the Western Atlantic Ocean, from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras, periodically between 2000 and 2013. During the study, particulate matter δ15N values ranged from 0.8 to 17.4 ‰, and δ13C values from -26.4 to -15.6 ‰ over the region. We used spatial autocorrelation analysis and random forest modeling to examine the spatial trends and potential environmental drivers of the stable isotope values. We observed general trends towards lower values for both nitrogen and carbon isotopes at the seaward edge of the shelf. Conversely, higher δ15N and δ13C values were observed on the landward edge of the shelf, in particular in the southern portion of the sampling area. Across all sites, the magnitude of the difference between the δ15N of subsurface and surface particulate matter (PM) significantly increased with water depth (r2 = 0.41, df = 35, p < 0.001), while δ13C values did not change. There were significant positive correlation between δ15N and δ13C values for surface PM in each of the three marine ecoregions that make up the study area. Stable isotope dynamics on the shelf can inform both nearshore and open ocean research efforts, reflecting regional productivity patterns and, even possibly, large-scale climate fluctuations. Article in Journal/Newspaper North Atlantic North Atlantic oscillation Northwest Atlantic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Frontiers in Marine Science 3 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Atlantic Ocean Plankton primary production random forest North Atlantic Oscillation Δ13C Science Q General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 |
spellingShingle |
Atlantic Ocean Plankton primary production random forest North Atlantic Oscillation Δ13C Science Q General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 Autumn Oczkowski Betty Kreakie Richard McKinney Jerry Prezioso Patterns in stable isotope values of nitrogen and carbon in particulate matter from the Northwest Atlantic Continental Shelf, from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras |
topic_facet |
Atlantic Ocean Plankton primary production random forest North Atlantic Oscillation Δ13C Science Q General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 |
description |
Stable isotope measurements of nitrogen and carbon (δ15N, δ13C) are often used to characterize estuarine, nearshore, and open ocean ecosystems. Reliable information about the spatial distribution of base-level stable isotope values, often represented by primary producers, is critical to interpreting values in these ecosystems. While base-level isotope data are generally readily available for estuaries, nearshore coastal waters, and the open ocean, the continental shelf is less studied. To address this, and as a first step towards developing a surrogate for base-level isotopic signature in this region, we collected surface and deep water samples from the United States’ eastern continental shelf in the Western Atlantic Ocean, from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras, periodically between 2000 and 2013. During the study, particulate matter δ15N values ranged from 0.8 to 17.4 ‰, and δ13C values from -26.4 to -15.6 ‰ over the region. We used spatial autocorrelation analysis and random forest modeling to examine the spatial trends and potential environmental drivers of the stable isotope values. We observed general trends towards lower values for both nitrogen and carbon isotopes at the seaward edge of the shelf. Conversely, higher δ15N and δ13C values were observed on the landward edge of the shelf, in particular in the southern portion of the sampling area. Across all sites, the magnitude of the difference between the δ15N of subsurface and surface particulate matter (PM) significantly increased with water depth (r2 = 0.41, df = 35, p < 0.001), while δ13C values did not change. There were significant positive correlation between δ15N and δ13C values for surface PM in each of the three marine ecoregions that make up the study area. Stable isotope dynamics on the shelf can inform both nearshore and open ocean research efforts, reflecting regional productivity patterns and, even possibly, large-scale climate fluctuations. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Autumn Oczkowski Betty Kreakie Richard McKinney Jerry Prezioso |
author_facet |
Autumn Oczkowski Betty Kreakie Richard McKinney Jerry Prezioso |
author_sort |
Autumn Oczkowski |
title |
Patterns in stable isotope values of nitrogen and carbon in particulate matter from the Northwest Atlantic Continental Shelf, from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras |
title_short |
Patterns in stable isotope values of nitrogen and carbon in particulate matter from the Northwest Atlantic Continental Shelf, from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras |
title_full |
Patterns in stable isotope values of nitrogen and carbon in particulate matter from the Northwest Atlantic Continental Shelf, from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras |
title_fullStr |
Patterns in stable isotope values of nitrogen and carbon in particulate matter from the Northwest Atlantic Continental Shelf, from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras |
title_full_unstemmed |
Patterns in stable isotope values of nitrogen and carbon in particulate matter from the Northwest Atlantic Continental Shelf, from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras |
title_sort |
patterns in stable isotope values of nitrogen and carbon in particulate matter from the northwest atlantic continental shelf, from the gulf of maine to cape hatteras |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2016.00252 https://doaj.org/article/bf459803bea24838a2516be6322b355d |
genre |
North Atlantic North Atlantic oscillation Northwest Atlantic |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic North Atlantic oscillation Northwest Atlantic |
op_source |
Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol 3 (2016) |
op_relation |
http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmars.2016.00252/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-7745 2296-7745 doi:10.3389/fmars.2016.00252 https://doaj.org/article/bf459803bea24838a2516be6322b355d |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2016.00252 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Marine Science |
container_volume |
3 |
_version_ |
1766136355599941632 |