Trophic discrimination of stable isotopes and potential food source partitioning by leaf‐eating crabs in mangrove environments

Kristensen, Erik; Lee, Joe; Mangion, Perrine; Quintana, Cintia Organo; Valdemarsen, Thomas Bruun

doi:10.1002/lno.10553

Cited by 44 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…Several studies have demonstrated that sesarmid crabs mainly utilize plant material with sediment as nutrient sources, especially in mangrove ecosystems (Lee 1998;Kristensen et al 2017). Our results support those of previous studies showing that large sesarmid crabs exploit plant materials more compared to the small individuals in a feeding experiment and a mangrove ecosystem (Emmerson and McGwynne 1992;Pahlas 2013).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…For running the model, δ 13 C and δ 15 N values of the crabs and diets, such as plant material and sediment, collected in both May and September were used. The stable signatures of MPB, assumed as one of diets applied, were from the global averages (δ 13 C: − 20.2‰ ± 2.1‰ and δ 15 N: 2.4‰ ± 1.2‰) compiled from various habitats (Kristensen et al 2017) because of incomplete sampling in this study. The discrimination factors of the diets were referred to the previous study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For sediment and MPB, the universal trophic values, 0.4‰ for δ 13 C and 2.3‰ for δ 15 N, were used (McCutchan et al 2003). The values of Δ 13 C at 3.5‰ ± 1.5‰ and Δ 15 N at 4‰ for plant materials that the sesarmid crab fed on mangrove leaves were applied (Kristensen et al 2017). The Spearman rank correlation was employed to validate the feeding ability of S. dehaani on sediment by comparisons of δ 13 C of both the sediment and crabs in the different sites in all the seasons.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There was incongruence between the results of the isotopic modeling and FA analysis, for example, that in the site 2 and 3 in September. In this study, the literature values were employed for the SIAR modeling for discrimination factors of diet: the plant material referred to mangrove leaves (3.5‰ ± 1.5‰ and 4‰ for δ 13 C and δ 15 N, respectively), sediment (0.4‰ and 2.3‰ for δ 13 C and δ 15 N, respectively), and MPB referred to global average (Kristensen et al 2017). However, the discrimination factors of prey for consumers showed different values in the type of tissue and species (McCutchan et al 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The young crabs were observed to depend on limited food sources, mainly detrital sediment, whereas the older individuals appeared to use diverse food sources, such as plant material and their own species, in addition to the detrital sediment (Han et al 2012). Several studies have been conducted to demonstrate that the trophic relations of sesarmine crabs contribute to nutrient cycling in the estuarine ecosystems, especially in mangrove ecosystems, with spatial differences and seasonal changes (Kyomo 1992;Werry and Lee 2005;Thongtham et al 2008;Poon et al 2010;Kristensen et al 2017). However, only a few studies have considered the size of crabs in relation to their food selection (Buck et al 2003;Pahlas 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Intraspecific diet shifts of the sesarmid crab, Sesarma dehaani, in three wetlands in the Han River estuary, South Korea

Yang

Han

2019

j ecology environ

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Background: Han River estuary is a national wetland reserve near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between South Korea and North Korea. This trans-boundary estuary area has been well preserved and shows distinctive plant communities along the salinity gradient. To elucidate energy flows and nutrient cycling in this area, we studied trophic relations between the dominant sesarmid crab, Sesarma dehaani, and food sources in three wetlands with different environments along the estuarine gradients. Results: Stable isotope signatures (δ 13 C and δ 15 N) of the crabs were significantly different among the sites and body size classes. Seasonal changes in δ 13 C of small crabs were distinct from those of large individuals at all the sites. The isotopic values and fatty acid profiles of the crabs were more different among the sites in September than in May. In May, large-sized crabs utilized more plant materials compared to other dietary sources in contrast to small-sized crabs as revealed by a stable isotope mixing modeling, whereas contributions to diets of crabs were not dominated by a specific diet for different body size in September except at site 1. Based on PCA loadings, fatty acid content of 18:3ω3, known as a biomarker of plant materials, was the main factor to separate size groups of crabs in May and September. The δ 13 C value of sediment had high correlation with those of small-sized crabs at site 1 and 2 when 1-month time lag was applied to the value for crabs during the surveyed period. Conclusions: Based on the stable isotope and fatty acid results, the consumption habits of S. dehaani appear to be distinguished by sites and their size. In particular, smaller size of S. dehaani appears to be more dependent on fewer food sources and is influenced more by the diet sources from the sediments in Han River estuary.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Intraspecific diet shifts of the sesarmid crab, Sesarma dehaani, in three wetlands in the Han River estuary, South Korea

Yang

Han

2019

j ecology environ

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Seabird nutrient subsidy alters size and resource use of functionally important mangrove macroinvertebrates

Appoo,

Graham,

Jones

et al. 2024

Ecosphere

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Invertebrates have a central role in food webs and ecosystem functioning. By boosting productivity, allochthonous nutrient inputs influence the food webs of recipient communities. Understanding how allochthonous nutrient subsidies affect invertebrates is crucial, particularly in highly productive coastal areas. Here, we examine how mangrove macroinvertebrates are impacted by nutrient‐rich guano delivered by nesting seabird populations at Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean. We compare nitrogen and carbon stable isotope ratios and nitrogen composition of basal resources and macroinvertebrate consumers in mangroves with and without nesting seabirds. Seabird‐derived nutrient enrichment increased the nitrogen content of basal food sources and herbivorous littorinid gastropods and sesarmid crabs. In mangroves with breeding seabirds, mean carapace widths of sesarmid and omnivorous portunid crabs were 6% and 11% larger, respectively. Isotopic niches of littorinid gastropods and sesarmid crabs were larger and had higher overlap at seabird compared to non‐seabird sites. Epiphytic macroalgae and guano comprised >50% of resource contributions to littorinid gastropods and sesarmid crabs at seabird sites. This differed markedly from non‐seabird sites where the main resource contributions were 77% mangrove leaves for littorinid gastropods, 36% sediment organic matter, and 41% mangrove leaves for sesarmid crabs. The increased sizes of mangrove crabs suggest that seabird nutrient enrichment can promote mangrove crab fisheries productivity and benefit the provisioning of mangrove ecosystem services. By shifting resource use of functionally important macroinvertebrates, we discuss how seabirds modify trophic interactions, with potential consequences for mangrove ecosystem processes and resilience.

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Stable isotopes indicate ecosystem restructuring following climate‐driven mangrove dieback

Harada

Fry

Lee

et al. 2019

Limnology & Oceanography

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Extreme climatic events can trigger sudden but often long‐lasting impacts in ecosystems by causing near to complete mortality of foundation (habitat‐forming) species. The magnitude and frequency of such events are expected to rise due to anthropogenic climate change, but the impacts that such events have on many foundation species and the ecosystems that they support remains poorly understood. In many cases, manipulative experimentation is extremely challenging and rarely feasible at a large scale. In late 2015 to early 2016, an extensive area of mangrove forest along ∼ 1000 km of coastline in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia, experienced severe dieback, an event associated with climatic extremes. To assess the effect this dieback event had on the mangrove ecosystem, we assessed benthic faunal assemblages and food web structure using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in a comparative experiment of impacted forest and adjacent unimpacted forest. Eighteen months after the dieback, the forest that suffered dieback contained significantly fewer crabs that rely on mangrove litter food source but more crabs that rely on microphytobenthos food source than the unimpacted forest. However, the infaunal biomass was largely unaffected by the mortality effect. This is most likely because microphytobenthos was largely unaffected and consequently, this buffered the food web responses. However, overall, the habitat value for mangrove ecosystem services most likely decreased due to lower physical habitat complexity following tree mortality. Longer‐term monitoring could lead to better understanding of biological effects of this extreme event and underlying biological mechanisms that drive changes and recovery.

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Trophic discrimination of stable isotopes and potential food source partitioning by leaf‐eating crabs in mangrove environments

Cited by 44 publications

References 62 publications

Intraspecific diet shifts of the sesarmid crab, Sesarma dehaani, in three wetlands in the Han River estuary, South Korea

Intraspecific diet shifts of the sesarmid crab, Sesarma dehaani, in three wetlands in the Han River estuary, South Korea

Seabird nutrient subsidy alters size and resource use of functionally important mangrove macroinvertebrates

Stable isotopes indicate ecosystem restructuring following climate‐driven mangrove dieback

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