Authors: Thimdee W.¹; Deein G.²; Sangrungruang C.³; Matsunaga K.⁴

Source: Wetlands Ecology and Management, Volume 12, Number 2, April 2004 , pp. 135-144(10)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

Stable carbon (¹³C) and nitrogen (¹⁵N) isotopes were used to elucidate primary food sources and trophic relationships of organisms in Khung Krabaen Bay and adjacent offshore waters. The three separate sampling sites were mangroves, inner bay and offshore. The ¹³C values of mangrove leaves were -28.2 to -29.4, seagrass -10.5, macroalgae -14.9 to -18.2, plankton -20.0 to -21.8, benthic detritus -15.1 to -26.3, invertebrates -16.5 to -26.0, and fishes -13.4 to -26.3. The ¹⁵N values of mangrove leaves were 4.3 to 5.7, seagrass 4.3, macroalgae 2.2 to 4.4, plankton 5.7 to 6.4 , benthic detritus 5.1 to 5.3, invertebrates 7.2 to 12.2 , and fishes 6.3 to 15.9. The primary producers had distinct ¹³C values. The ¹³C values of animals collected from mangroves were more negative than those of animals collected far from shore. The primary carbon sources that support food webs clearly depended on location. The contribution of mangroves to food webs was confined only to mangroves, but a mixture of macroalgae and plankton was a major carbon source for organisms in the inner bay area. Offshore organisms clearly derived their carbon through the planktonic food web. The ¹⁵N values of consumers were enriched by 3–4 relative to their diets. The ¹⁵N data suggests that some of aquatic animals had capacity to change their feeding habits according to places and availability of foods and as a result, individuals of the same species could be assigned to different trophic levels at different places.

Keywords: Fishes; Food web; Invertebrates; Mangroves; Primary producers; Stable carbon isotope; Stable nitrogen isotope

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/B:WETL.0000021674.76171.69

Affiliations: 1: Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hakodate, 041-8611, Japan ( ), Email: wthimdee@yahoo.com 2: Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hakodate, 041-8611, Japan; The Phitsanulok Fisheries Development Center, Prompiram District, Phitsanulok, 65150, Thailand 3: Khung Krabaen Bay Royal Development Study Center, Chantaburi, 22120, Thailand 4: Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hakodate, 041-8611, Japan

Publication date: 2004-04-01

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