Stable isotopes and trophic positions of littoral fishes from a Mediterranean marine protected area

Stable isotope analyses were employed to explore feeding and foraging habitats and trophic levels of littoral fishes in a western Mediterranean Marine Protected Area (Egadi Islands, Sicily, Italy). Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios were measured in primary producers, invertebrates and fishes collected in December 2001 and January 2002. Fishes of the littoral region of the Egadi Islands had isotopic signatures that fell into a wider range for δ ¹³C (about 6‰) than for δ ¹⁵N (about 3‰). Carbon isotope ratios were consistent with a food web based on mixed sources and two trophic pathways leading to different fish species. Differences in the isotopic composition between islands were higher for benthivorous than for planktivorous fishes. The overall picture gained from this study is of a isotopic distinction between planktivorous and benthivorous fishes, resource partitioning facilitating the coexistence of similar species within the same ecosystem, and spatial variability in the isotopic signatures and trophic level of fishes. Asymmetrical analysis of variance showed that estimated trophic levels were lower in the area with the highest level of protection (Zone A) for only two out of the nine fishes analysed. As a consequence, overall spatial differences do not seem to be a consequence of protection, since in most cases trophic levels did not change significantly between zone A and zones C where professional fishing (trawling apart) is permitted, but of natural sources of variation (e.g. variability in food availability and site-specific food preferences of fishes). However, the results of this study suggest a different response at the species compared to the community level.     

Origin and trophic importance of detritus-evidence from stable isotopes in the benthos of a small,temperate estuary

Ratios of ¹³C/¹²C and ¹⁵N/¹⁴N were measured in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), marginal vegetation, benthic macrodetritus (diameter > 1 mm) and selected invertebrate consumers in the Gamtoos estuary, South Africa to: (1) trace the provenance of benthic detrital deposits, and (2) determine the extent to which three abundant species of macroinvertebrates utilise this resource. DIC was strongly depleted in ¹³C with average ¹³C values (–9.5±0.5) being typical of limnetic waters. Benthic detrital particles (¹³C–24.1±0.3) originated mainly from marginal vegetation (¹³C–25.7±0.3), but their slightly elevated carbon ratio suggests additional input from ¹³C-rich sources-possibly C₄ plants cultivated on the floodplain. Populations of the fossorial ghost shrimp Callianassa kraussi, the bentho-pelagic amphipod Grandidierella lignorum and the epifaunal crab Hymenosoma robiculare together account for 96% of total benthic biomass in the upper regions of this estuary. Marked differences in trophic niches were evident among these three consumer species. Ghost shrimp (¹³C –32.5±0.3) foraged by filter-feeding on fine suspended particulate organic matter (¹³C–31.2±0.5). Amphipods (¹³C–28.0±0.6) utilised some benthic detritus but fed mainly on suspended material. Only the relatively rare crabs (¹³C–23.8±1.5) appeared to utilise benthic detrital particles to any significant extent. In the benthic consumer community of the upper Gamtoos estuary, suspension feeders make up 98% of biomass and thus clearly dominate over deposit feeders. This can be traced to the low contribution of higher plants (c. 13%) to overall carbon production, and detritus originating from macrophytes is consequently relatively unimportant in supporting invertebrate secondary production in this particular system.     

The trophic structure of bark-living oribatid mite communities analysed with stable isotopes (15N, 13C) indicates strong niche differentiation

The aim of the present study was to identify food sources of bark-living oribatid mites to investigate if trophic niche differentiation contributes to the diversity of bark living Oribatida. We measured the natural variation in stable isotope ratios (¹⁵N/¹⁴N, ¹³C/¹²C) in oribatid mites from the bark of oak (Quercus robur), beech (Fagus sylvatica), spruce (Picea abies) and pine (Pinus sylvestris) trees and their potential food sources, i.e., the covering vegetation of the bark (bryophytes, lichens, algae, fungi). As a baseline for calibration the stable isotope signatures of the bark of the four tree species were measured and set to zero. Oribatid mite stable isotope ratios spanned over a range of about 13 δ units for ¹⁵N and about 7 δ units for ¹³C suggesting that they span over about three trophic levels. Different stable isotope signatures indicate that bark living oribatid mites feed on different food sources, i.e., occupy distinct trophic niches. After calibration stable isotope signatures of respective oribatid mite species of the four tree species were similar indicating close association of oribatid mites with the corticolous cover as food source. Overall, the results support the hypothesis that trophic niche differentiation of bark living oribatid mites contributes to the high diversity of the group.     

A food web analysis of the juvenile blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, using stable isotopes in whole animals and individual amino acids

The stable isotope compositions (C and N) of plants and animals of a marsh dominated by Spartina alterniflora in the Delaware Estuary were determined. The study focused on the juvenile stage of the Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, and the importance of marsh-derived diets in supporting growth during this stage. Laboratory growth experiments and field data indicated that early juvenile blue crabs living in the Delaware Bay habitat fed primarily on zooplankton, while marsh-dwelling crabs, which were enriched in ¹³C relative to bay juveniles, utilized marsh-derived carbon for growth. In laboratory experiments, the degree to which juvenile blue crabs isotopically fractionated dietary nitrogen, as well as the growth rate, depended on the protein quality of the diet. The range of δ¹³C of amino acids in laboratory-reared crabs and their diets was almost 20‰, similar to the isotopic range of amino acids of other organisms. In laboratory studies, the δ¹³C of nonessential and essential amino acids in the diet were compared to those in juvenile crabs. Isotopic fractionation at the molecular level depended on diet quality and the crabs' physiological requirements. Comparison of whole-animal isotope data with individual amino acid C isotope measurements of wild juvenile blue crabs from the bay and marsh suggested a different source of total dietary carbon, yet a shared protein component, such as zooplankton. Received: 1 July 1998 / Accepted: 15 March 1999     

Energy sources for aquatic animals in the Orinoco River floodplain: evidence from stable isotopes

Summary Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in autotrophs, aquatic invertebrates and fishes from the Orinoco River floodplain of Venezuela reveal that microalgae, including both phytoplankton and epiphytic (attached) forms, are predominant energy sources for many aquatic animals, even though aquatic vascular plants are much more abundant. Floating mats of the grass Paspalum repens and the water hyacinth Eichhornia spp. harbor particularly high densities of aquatic animals, but isotopic evidence indicates that few species are dependent on organic carbon originating from these plants. The stable isotopic evidence for the trophic importance of algae contradicts traditional interpretations of food webs in freshwater wetlands, which are generally thought to be based largely on detritus originating from vascular plants.     

Quantifying the multiple facets of isotopic diversity: New metrics for stable isotope ecology

Stable isotope analyses have emerged as an insightful tool for ecologists, with quantitative methods being developed to analyse data at the population, community and food web levels. In parallel, functional ecologists have developed metrics to quantify the multiple facets of functional diversity in a n-dimensional space based on functional traits. Here, we transferred and adapted metrics developed by functional ecologists into a set of four isotopic diversity metrics (isotopic divergence, dispersion, evenness and uniqueness) complementary to the existing metrics. Specifically, these new metrics are mathematically independent of the number of organisms analysed and account for the abundance of organisms. They can also be calculated with more than two stable isotopes. In addition, we also provide a procedure for calculating the levels of isotopic overlap (similarity and turnover) between two groups of organisms. These metrics have been implemented into new functions in R made freely available to users and we illustrated their application using stable isotope values from a freshwater fish community. Transferring the framework developed initially for measuring functional diversity to stable isotope ecology will allow more efficient assessments of changes in the multiple facets of isotopic diversity following anthropogenic disturbances.     

Determination of food sources and trophic position in Malaysian tropical highland streams using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes

Stable isotope analysis has been extensively used as an effective tool in determination of trophic relationship in ecosystems. In freshwater ecosystem, aquatic invertebrates represent main component of a river food web. This study was carried out to determine potential food sources of freshwater organism together with pattern of trophic position along the river food web. In this study, rivers of Belum-Temengor Forest Complex (BTFC) has been selected as sampling site as it is a pristine area that contains high diversity and abundance of organisms and can be a benchmark for other rivers in Malaysia. Stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) were applied to estimate trophic position and food web paradigm. Analysis of stable isotopes based on organic material collected from the study area revealed that the highest δ¹³C value was reported from filamentous algae (? 22.68 ± 0.126⁰/₀₀) and the lowest δ¹³C was in allocthonous leaf packs (? 31.58 ± 0.187⁰/₀₀). Meanwhile the highest δ¹⁵N value was in fish (8.45 ± 0.177⁰/₀₀) and the lowest value of δ¹⁵N was in autochthonous aquatic macrophyte (2.00 ± 1.234⁰/₀₀). Based on the δ¹⁵N results, there are three trophic levels in the study river and it is suggested that the trophic chain begins with organic matter followed by group of insects and ends with fish (organic matter < insects < fish).     

Analysis of primary food sources and trophic relationships of aquatic animals in a mangrove-fringed estuary,Khung Krabaen Bay (Thailand) using dual stable isotope techniques

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.     

Trophic structure of common marine species in the Bohai Strait,North China Sea,based on carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios

Trophic relationships among common coastal species in the Bohai Strait, North China Sea, were investigated in this study using stable isotope ratios of carbon (¹³C/¹²C) and nitrogen (¹⁵N/¹⁴N) as tracers. During the research cruises of this study, 16 species of invertebrates and 18 species of fishes were collected, as were various food sources (phytoplankton, macroalgae, and sediment). The carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of all collected samples were measured and used for trophic level analyses. The results showed that the grazers Oregonia gracilis, Notoacmea schrenckii, Chlorostoma rustica, and Chelon affinis, preferentially consumed Zostera marina (p < 0.01), whereas Anthocidaris crassispina preferred Ulva conglobata (p < 0.01). Two trophic models based on nitrogen isotope ratios were built to identify the trophic level of each species. The model that combined food sources was more appropriate than the model that used a single primary producer to identify the relative trophic positions of primary consumers. Scombermorus niphonius, an important fishery resource, was at the top trophic level. The seastar Asterias amurensis was at the highest level among the invertebrates and directly threatened production of shellfish. Based on the trophic level and food source relationships identified in this study, we gave some advice for ecological restoration, such as optimizing the structure of food source distribution, limiting seastar numbers, and improving the applicability of habitat for fishery species.     

Assessing trophic interactions in a guild of primary parasitoids and facultative hyperparasitoids: stable isotope analysis

Facultative hyperparasitism is likely to be the most common form of intraguild predation among parasitoids. However, difficulties associated with studying facultative hyperparasitoids in the field have hampered a thorough understanding of their trophic ecology. In this study, we used a combination of stable isotope analysis and published natural history information to infer trophic interactions in a guild of field-collected primary parasitoids and facultative hyperparasitoids that attack a gall-making midge on Baccharis pilularis. Our three a priori hypotheses were: (1) stable isotope values should increase incrementally from the host plant to higher trophic levels; (2) the two species of ectoparasitoids should exhibit higher stable isotope signatures than the two endoparasitoids, and; (3) the two facultative hyperparasitoids should exhibit stable isotope signatures that fall between zero and one trophic level steps above that observed for the primary parasitoids. Food webs inferred from stable isotope data generally agreed with previously published accounts of community structure. As expected, both δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N were progressively enriched in the heavy isotope from the host plant to the herbivorous midge to the parasitic wasps. Multivariate analysis of stable isotope data revealed that the two primary ectoparasitoids occupied a similar trophic niche, but were significantly different from the primary endoparasitoids. We attribute this result to “coincidental intraguild predation” by ectoparasitoids that develop on already-parasitized midge larvae. One of the facultative hyperparasitoids, Zatropis capitis, exhibited a stable isotope signature approximately one trophic step above the primary parasitoids. Unexpectedly, the second facultative hyperparasitoid, Mesopolobus sp., appeared to be developing as a primary parasitoid at all sites. Coupled with independent assessments of community structure, stable isotope analysis validated trophic links constructed by previous researchers and identified potential taxon-specific differences in trophic interactions for two facultative hyperparasitoids in the B. pilularis gall community.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available to authorised users in the online version of this article at .     

The influence of productivity and width of littoral zone on the trophic position of a large-bodied omnivore

Omnivory is common in many food webs. Omnivores in different habitats can potentially change their feeding behaviour and alter their trophic position and role according to habitat conditions. Here we examine the trophic level and diet of the omnivorous signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) in gradients of trophic status and lake size, both of which have been previously suggested to affect trophic position of predators separately or combined as productive space. We found the trophic position of omnivorous crayfish to be positively correlated with lake trophic status, but found no evidence for any influence of lake size or productive space on crayfish trophic position. The higher trophic position of crayfish in eutrophic lakes was largely caused by a shift in crayfish diet and not by an increase in trophic links in basal parts of the food web. Hence, our results support the “productivity hypothesis,” suggesting that food chains can be longer in more productive systems. Furthermore, stable isotope data indicated that larger crayfish are more predatory than smaller crayfish in lakes with wider littoral zones. Wider littoral zones promoted the development of intrapopulation differences in trophic position whereas narrow littoral zones did not. Hence, differences in habitat quality between and within lakes seem to influence the trophic positions of omnivorous crayfish. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Examination of an Oligocene lacustrine ecosystem using C and N stable isotopes

The Late Oligocene (25.8 Ma) Enspel Fossillagerstätte in Westerwald, Germany, contains a comprehensive fossil ecosystem preserved with specimens retaining morphological detail and a concentration of organic material. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses were used to examine the lacustrine ecosystem preserved in one stratigraphic horizon. These data suggest the presence of several trophic levels, including primary producers (diatoms and higher plants), primary consumers (e.g., tadpoles and insects), and secondary consumers (e.g., the fish species Paleorutilus enspelensis). Terrigenous and aquatic plants were associated with the lowest δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values (mean plant = − 26.28‰ ± 0.45, 3.18‰ ± 1.04), primary consumers such as flies are one trophic level higher, and carnivores such as fish are yet another level higher. The δ¹⁵N values for P. enspelensis also showed enrichment in ¹⁵N with increasing body length, implying a shift in diet or feeding strategy with size. P. enspelensis and tadpole (Pelobates decheni) samples showed intraorganism fractionation between ‘muscle’ and ‘bone’ tissues. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope data from the measurement of components (shale, leaves and seeds) common to a number of different stratigraphic horizons showed significant variation between horizons. A number of the features of the stable isotopic data are similar to those relationships seen in modern ecosystems and therefore suggest that stable isotope analyses can contribute to understanding ancient ecosystems.     

Evidence of rapid shifts in the trophic base of lotic predators using experimental dietary manipulations and assimilation-based analyses

Assimilation-based techniques such as stoichiometric analysis, bulk tissue stable isotope analysis (SIA), fatty acid (FA) profiling and compound-specific SIA of FAs can be used to resolve ambiguities in consumer-resource relationships, but comparisons of their effectiveness are lacking. Feeding trials and concurrent application of these techniques were used to investigate the trophic base of two shrimps from Hong Kong streams: the atyid Caridina cantonensis, which is a primary consumer, and predatory Macrobrachium hainanense (Palaemonidae). Leaf litter and periphyton were fed to C. cantonensis (CC-LF and CC-PF, respectively) reared in the laboratory for 2 months, when C. cantonensis, that had fed on a mixed diet (CC-WC), were collected from the field. Atyids from each group (CC-LF, CC-PF and CC-WC) were fed to M. hainanense (MH-L, MH-P and MH-W, respectively) during a further 2-month trial, at the end of which M. hainanense were also collected from the field (MH-R). FA biomarkers present in CC-WC and CC-PF indicated that C. cantonensis depended primarily on autochthonous foods, and FA profiles of CC-WC were distinct from those of CC-LF. Differences in C/N ratios and isotope signatures of leaf litter and periphyton were not reflected in tissues of atyids or palaemonid predators. FA profiles of M. hainanense groups were similar, but FA stable C isotope ratio (δ¹³C) signatures of MH-R and MH-W were distinct from those of MH-L and leaf litter. FA δ¹³C signatures of MH-R were similar to those of MH-P and MH-W, indicating that autochthonous resources constituted the trophic base of production for this predator. This is the first study using compound-specific SIA to study stream food chains. Compound-specific SIA and FA profiling allowed accurate elucidation of consumer-resource relationships that were not revealed by stoichiometry or bulk tissue SIA. Compound-specific SIA was particularly sensitive for detecting rapid shifts in the predator trophic base. This tool will have wide applicability for investigating food webs in a range of ecosystems. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Comparison of the trophic niches between two planktivorous fishes in two large lakes using stable isotope analysis

This paper studied the sources of food and the trophic levels of silver and bighead carps using stable isotopes (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) analysis in Lake Qiandao and Lake Taihu. The δ¹³C values of POM and phytoplankton indicated that Particulate Organic Matter (POM) is of terrestrial origin in LQ and phytoplankton origin in LT. The different signature of δ¹⁵N of phytoplankton and POM also showed the different extent of anthropogenic impacts on the two lakes, with higher impacts in LT than in LQ. In LQ the trophic levels of silver and bighead carps were significantly different (2.48 ± 0.19 and 2.66 ± 0.19, respectively), while in LT the difference was not significant (2.15 ± 1.54 and 2.36 ± 0.38, respectively). Using a mixing model, we found that silver and bighead carps consumed a major proportion on phytoplankton and/or POM in both lakes with higher contribution of phytoplankton in more eutrophic lake. Silver and bighead carps had clear differentiation in food resources with silver carp more on POM and bighead more on zooplankton in deep and mesotrophic lakes. Contrary to this, both carps fed primarily on phytoplankton (and POM) and may have more niche overlaps in shallow and eutrophic lakes.     

Consistent trophic patterns among fishes in lagoon and channel habitats of a tropical floodplain river: Evidence from stable isotopes

The relationship between food web dynamics and hydrological connectivity in rivers should be strongly influenced by annual flood pulses that affect primary production dynamics and movement of organic matter and consumer taxa. We sampled basal production sources and fishes from connected lagoons and the main channel of a low-gradient, floodplain river within the Orinoco River Basin in Venezuela. Stable isotope analysis was used to model the contribution of four basal production sources to fishes, and to examine patterns of mean trophic position during the falling-water period of the annual flood cycle. IsoSource, a multi-source mixing model, indicated that proportional contributions from production sources to fish assemblages were similar in lagoons and the main channel. Although distributions differed, the means for trophic positions of fish assemblages as well as individual species were similar between the two habitats. These findings contradict recent food web studies conducted in temperate floodplain rivers that described significant differences in trophic positions of fishes from slackwater and floodplain versus main channel habitats. Low between-habitat trophic variation in this tropical river probably results from an extended annual flood pulse (ca. 5 mo.) that allows mixing of sestonic and allochthonous basal production sources and extensive lateral movements of fishes throughout the riverscape.     

应用稳定同位素研究广西东方洞食物网结构和营养级关系

稳定性同位素技术已经成为研究生态系统食物网结构和营养级关系及其动态变化的重要手段。应用稳定同位素技术(δ13C和δ15N)研究了东风洞的食物网结构和营养级关系。研究结果表明,东风洞主要为腐食食物链,由于在洞穴内黑暗带中无光照也无植物生长,所以碳源主要为东风洞中的土壤有机质,作为第一营养级;主要摄食关系为马陆与土壤有机物质,螺类与土壤有机物质等;在该洞生态系统中,将3种马陆直接作为初级消费者,以隅蛛和其它马陆平均值之间的差值(2.04‰)作为东风洞食物网稳定氮同位素的富集因子。根据营养级模型可知,马陆类群、细长钻螺等土壤动物,裸灶螽和涂闪夜蛾形成第二营养级,即初级消费者;第三营养级包括蜘蛛类、盲蛛、地蜈蚣以及黑眶蟾蜍,为次级消费者。     

Origin and cycling of riverine inorganic carbon in the Sava River watershed (Slovenia) inferred from major solutes and stable carbon isotopes

The Sava River and its tributaries in Slovenia represent waters strongly influenced by chemical weathering of limestone and dolomite. The carbon isotopic compositions of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and suspended organic carbon (POC) fractions as well as major solute concentrations yielded insights into the origin and fluxes of carbon in the upper Sava River system. The major solute composition was dominated by carbonic acid dissolution of calcite and dolomite. Waters were generally supersaturated with respect to calcite, and dissolved CO₂ was about fivefold supersaturated relative to the atmosphere. The δ¹³C of DIC ranged from −13.5 to −3.3‰. Mass balances for riverine inorganic carbon suggest that carbonate dissolution contributes up to 26%, degradation of organic matter ∼17% and exchange with atmospheric CO₂ up to 5%. The concentration and stable isotope diffusion models indicated that atmospheric exchange of CO₂ predominates in streams draining impermeable shales and clays while in the carbonate-dominated watersheds dissolution of the Mesozoic carbonates predominates.     

Influence of timing of fishing on trophic levels and diets of typical fish and invertebrate species in the Bohai Strait over a single year based on carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis

Fishing is the most widespread human exploitation of marine resources, which has an annual cyclical influence on aquatic species in Chinese offshore waters. This study used carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios as tracers to reveal the changes in trophic level and dietary composition of offshore organisms during four cruises in March, June, August and November 2014. The results indicated that the trophic levels of fishes declined during two fishing periods, from March (average trophic level = 3.36) to June (3.01), and from August (2.99) to November (2.57), while most invertebrates did not show this trend. The self-restoring ability of this ecosystem was reflected in the trophic level changes after the closed fishing season (from June 1 to September 1). The trophic levels of fishes remained stable, and some species even recovered such as Enchelyopus elongates (trophic level increased from 2.84 in June to 2.86 in August), Cryptocentrus filifer (from 3.10 to 3.12), and Ernogrammus hexagrammus (from 2.91 to 2.96). According to the trophic results, we selected the invertebrates Octopus minor and Asterias amurensis from the top trophic levels for dietary composition analysis. The composition of their diets changed significantly after fishing periods, and the proportions of some smaller and “non-commercial” species increased, such as Notoacmea schrenckii and Chlorostoma rustica. After the closed fishing season, the larger and “commercial” species contributed a greater proportion to their diet composition. These results indicated that the closed fishing season should be prolonged to give the ecosystem enough time to restore itself and further halt the trend of this fishery towards environment deterioration.     

Establishing pathways of energy flow for insect predators using stable isotope ratios: field and laboratory evidence

 Quantifying pathways of energy transfer between plants, pests, and beneficial insects is a necessary step toward maintaining pest stable agroecosystems in the absence of chemical subsidies. A diet switching experiment utilizing a predatory ladybird beetle, Hippodamia variegata (Goeze), evaluated the use of naturally occurring stable C and N isotopes as an economically feasible and safe method for quantifying pathways of energy flow within agroecosystems. Stable isotope values of the ladybird beetle Coleomegilla maculata lengi (Timberlake) collected from an agroecosystem were used to estimate the relative amount of C and N derived from agricultural plants and incorporated by ladybird beetles based on mass balance equations. At the beginning of the diet-switching experiment δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of H. variegata (–12.0‰ and 6.3‰, respectively) differed by –0.2‰ and 2.9‰ from the aphids that were provided exclusively as their diet. These data are consistent with previous estimates of trophic level isotope effects. After switching the diet of H. variegata to an alternative food, isotope values of H. variegata gradually shifted toward expected values for individuals fed this diet (–22.9‰ and 8.8‰ for δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values, respectively). Isotope values of another ladybird beetle, C. maculata, collected from the field indicated that in May, alfalfa and maize (pollen) obtained in the previous year contributed 32% and 68% of the C or N to the diets of these individuals and in August, 52%, 6%, and 42% of the C or N assimilated by these insects was derived from alfalfa, wheat, and maize, respectively. These data are consistent with expectations based on the relative abundance of C. maculata in various crops during the season. The field and laboratory data are a clear indication that isotope values are sensitive to dietary changes on a relatively short time scale (days) and provide a strong basis for the use stable C and N isotope to trace energy flow patterns of these beneficial organisms within agroecosystems. Received: 17 November 1995 / Accepted: 20 June 1996     

Sources of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in a Rocky Mountain stream using chemical fractionation and stable isotopes

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is an important vehicle for the movement of nutrients from terrestrial to aquatic systems. To investigate how the source and composition of aquatic DOM change in both space and time, we used chemical, spectroscopic, and isotopic analyses to characterize DOM in a headwater catchment in the Colorado Front Range. Streamwater samples for DOM analyses were collected from 2 sites, a lightly vegetated alpine site and a forested, subalpine site, in the North Boulder Creek catchment during the snowmelt runoff season (May–September). Concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) peaked on the ascending limb of the snowmelt hydrograph at both the alpine (2.6 mg C l⁻¹) and the subalpine sites (7.0 mg C l⁻¹) and decreased sharply on the descending limb of the hydrograph. Fractionation of DOM into operationally defined humic and non-humic components showed that the fulvic acid content of DOC decreased through the season at both sites and that spectroscopic (fluorescence and ultraviolet) properties of the humic DOM fraction shifted in a manner consistent with an increase in the proportion of humic DOM derived from instream sources as compared to terrestrial catchment sources. Humic and non-humic fractions of DOM isolated near peak flow in June and during low flows in September showed a seasonal enrichment in ¹⁵N and ¹³C as well as a seasonal decrease in the ratio of aromatic to aliphatic carbon, both of which were correlated with a decrease in the C:N ratio of the DOM fractions. These results suggest that seasonal shifts in the isotopic and chemical characteristics of DOM are a result of changes in catchment sources of DOM. In particular, it appears that DOM production in alpine lakes is an important contributor to the streamwater DOM load during late season low flows, especially in the alpine reach of the catchment. Our results further suggest that stable isotopes of C and N are useful tools, particularly when combined with ancillary data such as elemental analyses and catchment discharge, for evaluating sources and transformations of DOM at the catchment scale.