Nutrient Dynamics of Estuarine Invertebrates Are Shaped by Feeding Guild Rather than Seasonal River Flow

PloS One
Kelly Ortega-Cisneros, Ursula M Scharler

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the variability of carbon and nitrogen elemental content, stoichiometry and diet proportions of invertebrates in two sub-tropical estuaries in South Africa experiencing seasonal changes in rainfall and river inflow. The elemental ratios and stable isotopes of abiotic sources, zooplankton and macrozoobenthos taxa were analyzed over a dry/wet seasonal cycle. Nutrient content (C, N) and stoichiometry of suspended particulate matter exhibited significant spatio-temporal variations in both estuaries, which were explained by the variability in river inflow. Sediment particulate matter (%C, %N and C:N) was also influenced by the variability in river flow but to a lesser extent. The nutrient content and ratios of the analyzed invertebrates did not significantly vary among seasons with the exception of the copepod Pseudodiaptomus spp. (C:N) and the tanaid Apseudes digitalis (%N, C:N). These changes did not track the seasonal variations of the suspended or sediment particulate matter. Our results suggest that invertebrates managed to maintain their stoichiometry independent of the seasonality in river flow. A significant variability in nitrogen content among estuarine invertebrates was recorded, with highest...Continue Reading

References

Dec 16, 2000·Nature·J J ElserR W Sterner
Aug 19, 2008·The American Naturalist·William F FaganJames J Elser
Mar 20, 2010·PloS One·Andrew C ParnellAndrew L Jackson
Apr 1, 2001·Oecologia·Donald L Phillips, Jillian W Gregg
Sep 25, 2014·Annual Review of Marine Science·Peter A JumarsSara M Lindsay

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Software Mentioned

SPSS Statistics
R package SIAR ( Stable Isotope Analysis in R )

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