Oyster and Macroalgae Bioindicators Detect Elevated δ15N in Maryland’s Coastal Bays

Fertig, Benjamin; Carruthers, Tim J. B.; Dennison, William C.; Jones, Adrian B.; Pantus, Francis; Longstaff, Ben

doi:10.1007/s12237-009-9148-x

Cited by 44 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…The δ 15 N values in macroalgae have often been related to δ 15 N in DIN sources (e.g., Costanzo et al 2001;Cole et al 2004;Cohen and Fong 2006;Dillon and Chanton 2008;Oczkowski et al 2008;Fertig et al 2009). Although phytoplankton fractionate nitrate (NO 3 − ) during uptake and assimilation, with 14 NO 3 − reacting faster than 15 NO 3 − , macroalgae do not (Dillon and Chanton 2008 (Karsh et al 2003;Needoba et al 2003).…”

Section: Discussion δ 15 N In Macroalgae and Oystersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fresh Water Inflow and Oyster Productivity in Apalachicola Bay, FL (USA)

Oczkowski

Lewis

Nixon

et al. 2011

Estuaries and Coasts

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Apalachicola Bay lies at the mouth of the Apalachicola River, where seasonally variable freshwater inflows and shifting winds have long been thought to contribute to the support of an unusually productive and commercially important oyster fishery. Links between the river and productivity have been shown to lie in salinityinduced reductions in oyster predators and oyster disease as well as organic supplements from an extensive floodplain. Several studies have also indicated that nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) carried by the river are important in fertilization of bay primary production. While there is concern that upstream water withdrawals may impact the fishery, the importance of riverine N to oyster diets remains unclear. We measured N and carbon (C) stable isotopes (δ 15 N, δ 13 C) in macroalgae, surface-water nitrate, and surface sediments, which showed a gradient from enriched riverine δ 15 N values to more depleted values in the Gulf of Mexico. In contrast, δ 13 C of particulate matter is depleted in the river and enriched offshore. Oyster stable isotope values throughout Apalachicola Bay are more complex, but are dominated by freshwater inputs and reflect the variability and hydrodynamics of the riverine inflows.

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Section: Discussion δ 15 N In Macroalgae and Oystersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fresh Water Inflow and Oyster Productivity in Apalachicola Bay, FL (USA)

Oczkowski

Lewis

Nixon

et al. 2011

Estuaries and Coasts

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“…Although a variety of isotopic studies deal with riverine inflow into estuarine and coastal environments (e.g. Rogers 2003, Fertig et al 2009), most of them are aimed at detecting anthropogenic sources, such as sewage inflows, which can be distinguished from unpolluted marine sources via their δ 15 N values (Heaton 1986, Costanzo et al 2001 (Hill & McQuaid 2008). Even coastal areas with relatively high anthropogenic influence show a predominance of phytoplanktonic organic matter in the food of benthic filter feeders (Page & Lastra 2003).…”

Section: Implications For the C-and N-cyclesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although a variety of isotopic studies deal with riverine inflow into estuarine and coastal environments (e.g. Rogers 2003, Fertig et al 2009), most of them are aimed at detecting anthropogenic sources, such as sewage inflows, which can be distinguished from unpolluted marine sources via their δ . Carbon and nitrogen isotope signatures of organisms from an estuarine food web in Plum Island Sound, USA, also exhibited minimal importance of TOM (Deegan & Garritt 1997).…”

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confidence: 99%

Stable isotope variability in a Chilean fjord food web: implications for N- and C-cycles

Mayr

Försterra²,

Häussermann³

et al. 2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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We analysed carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) isotope ratios of organisms and biogenic tissues from Comau Fjord (southern Chile) to characterise benthic food webs and spatial isotope variability in this ecosystem. These values were intended to serve as a baseline for detecting anthropogenic impacts on Patagonian marine fjord ecosystems in later studies. Benthic macroalgae and invertebrate suspension feeders were primarily considered, with some supplementary data from cyanobacteria, plankton, fish, and coastal vertebrates. Six depth transects typified the lateral salinity gradients from the innermost part of the fjord to its mouth, as well as the vertical density gradients caused by freshwater inflow. Carbon isotope signatures indicated predominant consumption of either CO 2 or HCO 3 -for benthic macroalgal. All CO 2 users belonged to rhodophytes. The δ 15N values of benthic macrophytes decreased with decreasing salinity, both vertically and along the fjord axis. This implies the influence of 15 N-poor terrestrial dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) at these sites. Enhanced influence of freshwater influx also lowered N contents and increased C/N ratios in algal tissues. Exceptionally high macroalgae δ Mar Ecol Prog Ser 428: [89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104] 2011 2007, van Ofwegen et al. 2006, Esteves et al. 2007, Sinniger & Häussermann 2009). The driving forces behind these patterns are not yet fully understood (Fernandez et al. 2000, Escribano et al. 2003. Possible environmental factors affecting biodiversity are specific physical and chemical gradients or highly dynamic nutrient and organic matter fluxes. However, few oceanographic data are available (e.g. Pickard 1971, Silva et al. 1995, Strub et al. 1998). An understanding of the functioning of the Chilean fjord ecosystem is a prerequisite in order to assess the consequences of the intensified exploitation of marine resources and of rapidly expanding aquaculture, the latter adding additional nutrient sources to benthic ecosystems. In addition to species inventories, a deeper understanding of the biogeochemical cycles in Patagonian fjords is the basis for environmental monitoring.Stable isotope methods are frequently applied to characterise marine food webs (Minagawa & Wada 1984, Schoeninger & DeNiro 1984, Bergmann et al. 2009, Steinarsdóttir et al. 2009). The nitrogen and carbon isotopic compositions of natural samples are given as delta values (δ), representing the isotope ratio of the heavy to the light isotope (‰) relative to an international standard and is defined as: δ y X = (R sample / R standard -1) × 1000, with R being the ratio of the heavier to the lighter isotope ( The carbon isotope composition (δ 13 C) of an organism can be used to distinguish isotopically different sources in food webs (DeNiro & Epstein 1978). Minor δ 13 C differences of 0 to 1 ‰ are observed between animals and their food (Peterson & Fry 1987). Thus, the much larger carbon isotope discrepancies between certain groups of prim...

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“…Biological indicators such as the δ 15 N of either the zebra mussels (Fry and Allen 2003), or the oyster Crassostrea virginica and the macroalgae Gracilaria sp. (Fertig et al 2009) were suggested to monitor the anthropogenic impact or animal wastes on watershed in aquatic ecosystems. Lefebvre et al (2009a) and Grangeré et al (2012) suggested the use of both δ 13 C and δ 15 N values of the Pacific oyster C. gigas muscle tissue to typify the trophic functioning of coastal ecosystems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Comparison of δ13C Values of a Deposit- and a Suspension-Feeder Bio-Indicates Benthic vs. Pelagic Couplings and Trophic Status in Contrasted Coastal Ecosystems

Gaudron

Grangeré

Lefebvre

2015

Estuaries and Coasts

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δ 13 C and δ 15 N values of two generalists primary consumers, a strict deposit-feeder polychaete (Arenicola marina), and a strict suspension-feeder bivalve (Crassostrea gigas), were investigated to typify the trophic functioning of two contrasted marine coastal ecosystems (eutrophic and mesotrophic, east and west Cotentin peninsula, respectively, English Channel, Normandy, France). On average, δ 13 C and δ 15 N values of lugworms mirrored those of sediment organic matter (SOM), whereas δ 13 C and δ 15 N of oysters mirrored those of suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM). δ 13 C values of the two species displayed significant differences on the west coast (mesotrophic) contrary to the east coast (eutrophic; significant interactions). δ 15 N values differed only between sites and not between species. Diet of A. marina relied exclusively on microphytobenthos (MPB) and detritus of macroalgae (ULV) on the mesotrophic coast, whereas diet of C. gigas relied mainly on SPOM. Conversely, on the eutrophic ecosystem (the east coast), both species displayed the same diet, which was a mixture of pelagic sources (SPOM), benthic sources (MPB and ULV) and to a lesser extent riverine particulate organic matter (rPOM). These results were explained by the intensity of benthic vs. pelagic couplings (i.e. benthic-pelagic and pelagic-benthic) which differed in the two ecosystems. Low trophic coupling occurred on the mesotrophic (west) coast, whereas benthic-pelagic (SOM resuspension) and pelagic-benthic (settling of SPOM such as phytoplankton blooms) couplings were typified on the eutrophic (east) coast. This higher particulate organic matter (POM) pelagic-benthic coupling on the east coast was probably enhanced by nutrient enrichment caused by eutrophication. Comparison of δ 13 C ratios of both the strict deposit-feeder (e.g. A. marina) and the strict suspension-feeder (e.g. C. gigas) was then proposed as a bio-indicator of the trophic status and of POM benthic vs. pelagic couplings of softbottom coastal ecosystems.

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Oyster and Macroalgae Bioindicators Detect Elevated δ15N in Maryland’s Coastal Bays

Cited by 44 publications

References 55 publications

Fresh Water Inflow and Oyster Productivity in Apalachicola Bay, FL (USA)

Fresh Water Inflow and Oyster Productivity in Apalachicola Bay, FL (USA)

Stable isotope variability in a Chilean fjord food web: implications for N- and C-cycles

The Comparison of δ13C Values of a Deposit- and a Suspension-Feeder Bio-Indicates Benthic vs. Pelagic Couplings and Trophic Status in Contrasted Coastal Ecosystems

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