Carbon flow and trophic structure of an Antarctic coastal benthic community as determined by δ13C and δ15N
Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen were used to determine the different carbon pathways and trophic assemblages amongst coastal benthic fauna of the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica. Macroalgae, pelagic POM, sediment POM and sea ice POM had well-separated δ13C signatures, which ranged from −36....
Published in: | Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | unknown |
Published: |
ePublications@SCU
2012
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://epubs.scu.edu.au/esm_pubs/1303 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2011.11.003 |
id |
ftsoutherncu:oai:epubs.scu.edu.au:esm_pubs-2306 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftsoutherncu:oai:epubs.scu.edu.au:esm_pubs-2306 2023-05-15T13:47:30+02:00 Carbon flow and trophic structure of an Antarctic coastal benthic community as determined by δ13C and δ15N Gillies, Christopher L Stark, Jonathan S Johnstone, Glenn J Smith, Stephen DA 2012-01-01T08:00:00Z https://epubs.scu.edu.au/esm_pubs/1303 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2011.11.003 unknown ePublications@SCU School of Environment, Science and Engineering Papers Stable isotope analysis benthic trophic ecology Antarctica Windmill Islands Casey Station Environmental Sciences article 2012 ftsoutherncu https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2011.11.003 2019-08-06T12:54:54Z Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen were used to determine the different carbon pathways and trophic assemblages amongst coastal benthic fauna of the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica. Macroalgae, pelagic POM, sediment POM and sea ice POM had well-separated δ13C signatures, which ranged from −36.75‰ for the red alga Phyllophora antarctica, to −10.35‰ for sea ice POM. Consumers were also well separated by δ13C, ranging from −21.42‰ for the holothurian Staurocucumis sp. up to −7.47‰ for the urchin Sterechinus neumayeri. Analysis of δ13C and δ15N revealed distinct groups for suspension feeders, grazer/herbivores and deposit feeders, whilst predators and predator/scavengers showed less grouping. Consumers spanned a δ15N range of 8.71‰, equivalent to four trophic levels, although δ15N ratios amongst consumers were continuous, rather than grouped into discrete trophic levels. The study has built a trophic model for the Windmill Islands and summarises three main carbon pathways utilised by the benthos: (1) pelagic POM; (2) macroalgae/epiphytic/benthic diatoms and (3) sediment POM/benthic diatoms. The movement of carbon within the coastal benthic community of the Windmill Islands is considered complex, and stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen were valuable tools in determining specific feeding guilds and in tracing carbon flow, particularly amongst lower-order consumers. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica East Antarctica Sea ice Windmill Islands Southern Cross University: epublications@SCU Antarctic Casey Station ENVELOPE(110.528,110.528,-66.282,-66.282) East Antarctica Windmill Islands ENVELOPE(110.417,110.417,-66.350,-66.350) Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 97 44 57 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Southern Cross University: epublications@SCU |
op_collection_id |
ftsoutherncu |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Stable isotope analysis benthic trophic ecology Antarctica Windmill Islands Casey Station Environmental Sciences |
spellingShingle |
Stable isotope analysis benthic trophic ecology Antarctica Windmill Islands Casey Station Environmental Sciences Gillies, Christopher L Stark, Jonathan S Johnstone, Glenn J Smith, Stephen DA Carbon flow and trophic structure of an Antarctic coastal benthic community as determined by δ13C and δ15N |
topic_facet |
Stable isotope analysis benthic trophic ecology Antarctica Windmill Islands Casey Station Environmental Sciences |
description |
Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen were used to determine the different carbon pathways and trophic assemblages amongst coastal benthic fauna of the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica. Macroalgae, pelagic POM, sediment POM and sea ice POM had well-separated δ13C signatures, which ranged from −36.75‰ for the red alga Phyllophora antarctica, to −10.35‰ for sea ice POM. Consumers were also well separated by δ13C, ranging from −21.42‰ for the holothurian Staurocucumis sp. up to −7.47‰ for the urchin Sterechinus neumayeri. Analysis of δ13C and δ15N revealed distinct groups for suspension feeders, grazer/herbivores and deposit feeders, whilst predators and predator/scavengers showed less grouping. Consumers spanned a δ15N range of 8.71‰, equivalent to four trophic levels, although δ15N ratios amongst consumers were continuous, rather than grouped into discrete trophic levels. The study has built a trophic model for the Windmill Islands and summarises three main carbon pathways utilised by the benthos: (1) pelagic POM; (2) macroalgae/epiphytic/benthic diatoms and (3) sediment POM/benthic diatoms. The movement of carbon within the coastal benthic community of the Windmill Islands is considered complex, and stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen were valuable tools in determining specific feeding guilds and in tracing carbon flow, particularly amongst lower-order consumers. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Gillies, Christopher L Stark, Jonathan S Johnstone, Glenn J Smith, Stephen DA |
author_facet |
Gillies, Christopher L Stark, Jonathan S Johnstone, Glenn J Smith, Stephen DA |
author_sort |
Gillies, Christopher L |
title |
Carbon flow and trophic structure of an Antarctic coastal benthic community as determined by δ13C and δ15N |
title_short |
Carbon flow and trophic structure of an Antarctic coastal benthic community as determined by δ13C and δ15N |
title_full |
Carbon flow and trophic structure of an Antarctic coastal benthic community as determined by δ13C and δ15N |
title_fullStr |
Carbon flow and trophic structure of an Antarctic coastal benthic community as determined by δ13C and δ15N |
title_full_unstemmed |
Carbon flow and trophic structure of an Antarctic coastal benthic community as determined by δ13C and δ15N |
title_sort |
carbon flow and trophic structure of an antarctic coastal benthic community as determined by δ13c and δ15n |
publisher |
ePublications@SCU |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://epubs.scu.edu.au/esm_pubs/1303 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2011.11.003 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(110.528,110.528,-66.282,-66.282) ENVELOPE(110.417,110.417,-66.350,-66.350) |
geographic |
Antarctic Casey Station East Antarctica Windmill Islands |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Casey Station East Antarctica Windmill Islands |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica East Antarctica Sea ice Windmill Islands |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica East Antarctica Sea ice Windmill Islands |
op_source |
School of Environment, Science and Engineering Papers |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2011.11.003 |
container_title |
Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science |
container_volume |
97 |
container_start_page |
44 |
op_container_end_page |
57 |
_version_ |
1766247246906523648 |