The role of standing dead Spartina alterniflora and benthic microalgae in salt marsh food webs:considerations based on multiple stable isotope analysis

Ca, Currin; Sy, Newell; Paerl, HW

doi:10.3354/meps121099

Cited by 400 publications

(338 citation statements)

References 42 publications

(119 reference statements)

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“…At Site CF, the MPB was particularly enriched, with δ 13 C values of around -15 ‰ observed. The heavy δ 13 C values observed at Site CF are consistent with previous studies of the isotopic signature of MPB, in particular where cyanobacteria make a significant contribution to the algal community (Currin et al 1995 and references therein), as was the case here. Signatures of the stable isotopes of nitrogen also allowed a distinction between marine and terrestrial sources of organic matter at Site PC.…”

supporting

confidence: 92%

“…At Site CF, however, the δ 15 N isotopic signature of MPB was less than 3 ‰, and indistinguishable from that of organic matter derived from terrestrial sources. Low δ 15 N values in benthic and pelagic algae are most likely to arise from nitrogen fixation by cyanobacteria (Currin et al 1995, MacGregor et al 2001). This accords with the high rates of N 2 fixation observed here at times (Cook et al 2004b).…”

Section: Stable Isotopes As Indicators Of Sources Of Organic Carbon Wmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Carbon and nitrogen cycling on intertidal mudflats of a temperate Australian estuary. III. Sources of organic matter

Cook¹,

Revill²,

Clementson³

et al. 2004

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The sources and cycling of organic matter on 2 mudflats in the Huon Estuary, SE Tasmania, were investigated over 4 seasons using pigment and lipid biomarkers as well as stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen; 1 site was in the upper estuary,1 site was in a marine side-arm. The organic matter within the sediments at both sites was dominated by terrestrial sources, but most of this was refractory and only slowly remineralised. Significant, but seasonally variable, amounts of organic matter were derived from microphytobenthos (MPB), but this was rapidly remineralised and comprised only a minor fraction of the preserved sediment organic matter pool. Compound specific stable-isotope analysis of bacterial biomarkers suggested that the bacteria within the sediment were consuming microalgae-derived material. Separation of MPB from the sediment at the site in the upper estuary using the lens-tissue technique was found to significantly fractionate the algae community with cyanobacteria being enriched in the separated fraction. Nitrogen fixation probably contributed significantly to the growth requirements of cyanobacteria at the site in the upper estuary, as indicated by the low δ 15 N value of the cyanobacteria separated from the sediment.KEY WORDS: Microphytobenthos · Stable isotope · Compound-specific isotope-ratio mass spectrometry · Fatty acids · Sterols · Accessory pigment · Mudflat Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherMar Ecol Prog Ser 280: [55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72] 2004 1999, Cahoon & Safi 2002), but this may shift seasonally to chlorophytes and cyanobacteria (Barranguet et al. 1997). In some areas, intertidal sediments may be dominated by cyanobacteria where high rates of nitrogen fixation may supply a significant amount of nitrogen to the benthic community (Stal et al. 1984, Bautista & Paerl 1985, Stal 1995.A number of approaches have been used to estimate the contributions of organic matter from various sources to sediments. Isotope ratios of 13 C/ 12 C have been used to estimate the relative contribution of terrestrial and marine sources to sedimentary organic matter (Fry & Sherr 1984). While this approach is relatively simple and gives an integrated estimate of sources for the total carbon in the sample, it will only provide useful information when there are 2 welldefined end-members. Furthermore, this technique gives little information about the type of marine or terrestrial organic matter in question.The use of lipid and pigment biomarkers such as fatty acids and sterols can allow the sources of various subfractions of organic matter to be identified much more specifically than any of the above approaches. However, unambiguously assigning sources to biomarkers is difficult, as they are rarely produced by a single class of organism. The advent of compound-specific stableisotope analysis has provided a powerful new tool for the differentiation between 2 sources of the same biomarker, provided the isotopic sign...

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supporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Stable Isotopes As Indicators Of Sources Of Organic Carbon Wmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon and nitrogen cycling on intertidal mudflats of a temperate Australian estuary. III. Sources of organic matter

Cook¹,

Revill²,

Clementson³

et al. 2004

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…In North Carolina, sediments under Spartina alterniflora have been associated with δ 13 C values of between -18.6‰ and -14.0‰ (Craft et al, 1988;Currin et al, 1995;Kemp et al, 2010). Similar sediments in South Carolina had δ…”

Section: Values In Bulk Surface Sedimentsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Application of stable carbon isotopes for reconstructing salt‐marsh floral zones and relative sea level, New Jersey, USA

Kemp¹,

Vane²,

Horton³

et al. 2011

J Quaternary Science

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We investigated use of δ13C in bulk organic sediment to define the botanical origin of samples preserved in coastal sediment as a means to reconstruct relative sea level in New Jersey, USA. Modern transects at three sites demonstrated that low and high salt‐marsh floral zones dominated by C4 species (Spartina alterniflora and Spartina patens) were associated with sediment δ13C values between −18.9‰ and −15.8‰ and occurred from mean tide level (MTL) to mean higher high water (MHHW). Brackish transitional settings vegetated by Phragmites australis with Iva fructescens and Typha sp. (C3 species) and freshwater upland samples (C3 species) were characterized by bulk sediment δ13C values of −27.0‰ to −22.0‰ and existed above MHHW. Parallel transects at one site suggested that intra‐site variability was not discernible. The utility of δ13C values for reconstructing relative sea level in New Jersey is limited by an inability to differentiate between brackish sediments related to sea level and freshwater upland samples. To facilitate this distinction in a 4.4 m core, we used a multi‐proxy approach (δ13C values with presence or absence of agglutinated foraminifera) to recognize indicative meanings for four sample types. Sediment with δ13C values greater than −18.9‰ was derived from a vegetated salt‐marsh and formed between MTL and MHHW. Sediment with δ13C values less than −22.0‰ and containing agglutinated foraminifera formed in a brackish transitional zone between MHHW and highest astronomical tide (HAT). This is the narrowest elevational range of the four sample types and most precise sea‐level indicator. Sediment with δ13C values less than −22.0‰ and lacking foraminifera can only constrain the upper bound of former sea level. Samples with intermediate values (−22.0‰ to −18.9‰) formed between MTL and HAT. Using these indicative meanings and radiocarbon dates, we suggest that a transition from brackish to salt‐marsh δ13C values recorded in the core took approximately 350 years (from 1800 to 1450 cal. a BP). Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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“…The stable isotopic composition of sulfur in primary producers is variable as well. In a short Spartina alterniflora marsh in Massachusetts (USA), live, dead and senescent plant 634S values ranged from -9.5 to +5.5 (Peterson et al 1986); differences of about 14%0 have been found between live and standing dead S. alterniflora leaves (Currin et al 1995). The 634S of live S. alterniflora in a…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variability of stable sulfur isotopic ratios in Spartina alterniflora

Stribling¹,

Cornwell²,

Currin³

1998

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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ABSTRACT. The sulfur stable isotopic composition of Spartina dlterniflora in a low salinity tidal creek system was related to differences in porewater sulfur chemistry determined by salinity, hydrodynamics, and season. The extent of porewater sulfide accumulation, the reoxidation of sulfide minerals, and sulfate limitation of sulfate reduction were important processes controlling the tj3'S of the sulfur available for plant uptake. The influence of sedimentary sulfate reduction rates on S. alterniflora 634S was demonstrated in the comparison of 2 sites with s~milar sulfate supply but differing hydrology; plant tj3'S values were heavier where sediments were more oxidized relative to plant 634S values from a fl-equently flooded marsh with more reduced sediments. The role of sulfate supply in determining S alterniflora P 4 S values was apparent in the comparison of 3 sites with similar hydrology but differing salinitv; shoot P 4 S decreased with increasing salinity. In low salinity marshes, oxidation of stored sulfide minerals in winter and spring led to lighter shoot 6"s values, while sulfate depletion in late summer was associated with isotopically heavier shoot sulfur. Variability on spatial and temporal scales in sulfur stable isotopic composition of S. alterniflora has implicat~ons for the use of its P 4 S values in studies of trophic dynamics in estuarine marshes. The sulfur chem~stry of the marsh sediments and the sampling season may both influence the stable isotopic signature of this important prlrnary producer.

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The role of standing dead Spartina alterniflora and benthic microalgae in salt marsh food webs:considerations based on multiple stable isotope analysis

Cited by 400 publications

References 42 publications

Carbon and nitrogen cycling on intertidal mudflats of a temperate Australian estuary. III. Sources of organic matter

Carbon and nitrogen cycling on intertidal mudflats of a temperate Australian estuary. III. Sources of organic matter

Application of stable carbon isotopes for reconstructing salt‐marsh floral zones and relative sea level, New Jersey, USA

Variability of stable sulfur isotopic ratios in Spartina alterniflora

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