Unifying ecosystem concepts and mercury biomagnification in an estuarine environment using stable isotopes (delta-carbon-13 and delta nitrogen-15).

Isotope ratios of carbon (13C/12C) and nitrogen (15N/14N), on a parts per thousand (‰) basis relative to a standard, were used to trace carbon flows (delta 13C) and trophic positions of organisms (delta15N). Values of delta13C and delta15N were obtained for sediments, suspended particulate matter (SPM), plants, and animals found in the Miramichi River Estuary (New Brunswick, Canada) and used to show the relationship between food web structure and patterns of mercury biomagnification. On a delta13C and delta15N basis, three different sources of energy were identified: terrestrial carbon, in situ estuarine primary production, and marine phytoplankton. Isotopically depleted delta13C and delta15N values verified terrestrial carbon was a major source of energy to estuarine sediments and SPM. A cluster analysis of mean delta13C and delta 15N values for 47 abiotic and biotic groups in this study helped to structure the community of plants and animals. Eight distinct clusters were formed: (1) estuarine sediment, and estuarine and freshwater SPM; (2) estuarine and marine primary producers; (3) freshwater fish and submerged terrestrial leaf litter, and estuarine oysters; (4) estuarine filter-feeding invertebrates; (5) estuarine deposit-feeding invertebrates; (6) estuarine planktivorous and benthivorous fish, some benthic invertebrates, and two filter-feeding marine fish; (7) estuarine carnivorous and two benthivorous fish; and (8) double crested cormorant eggs (whites and yolks). The results of this analysis show that for this coastal ecosystem, no distinction can be made in delta13C and delta15N values between estuarine and marine primary producers and filter-feeding fish, whereas freshwater fish and submerged terrestrial leaf litter were characterised by their isotopically light delta13C values. Based on measurements of delta13C and delta 15N differences between a predator and its prey, an average delta 13C- and delta15N-trophic enrichment factor (TEF) of 1.87 +/- 0.16‰ and 2.94 +/- 0.14‰, respectively, were calculated for the Miramichi River Estuary food web. Consistent with observations in other aquatic studies, a total of 4.7 delta15N-defined trophic levels were identified for the Miramichi River Estuary food web. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Ottawa (Canada)

Year dc:date

2009

Author dc:creator

• Pastershank, Georgine M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lean, David,

• Biology, Ecology.

Identifier

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 63-01, Section: B, page: 0048.
9780612661820
http://dx.doi.org/10.20381/ruor-16286

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ruor.uottawa.ca:10393/9387