Spatial variability of stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon

Exploring the trophic pathway of organic matter within the Mauguio lagoon (southern France, western Mediterranean), we found spatial differences in the isotopic composition (both δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values) of organic matter sources (primary producers, particulate and sedimentary organic matter), which were mirrored in the upper trophic levels (invertebrates and fish). On average, δ¹³C was heavier by about 1.5–2‰ in the location under marine influence than in the sites influenced by freshwater discharge. The opposite trend was found for δ¹⁵N, which attained maximum values in the north-central zone influenced by freshwater delivery. For both C and N stable isotope ratios, the highest spatial variability was found in organic matter sources (2–3‰), while invertebrates and fish exhibited less variability (\~1–2‰). The differences observed may be related to both anthropogenic (wastewater input) and natural (marine vs. terrestrial inputs) factors. Discharge of wastewater, which affects the innermost location, generally determines an increase in the relative abundance of ¹⁵N. In addition, terrestrially derived nutrients and organic matter, which also affect the innermost location, are known to determine a shift towards ¹³C-depleted values. Our results substantiate the finding that the analysis of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes can help in elucidating origin and fate of organic matter in coastal lagoons, which are characterised by a great spatial variability and complexity.     

Within-lake variability in carbon and nitrogen stable isotope signatures

1. We assessed spatial and temporal variation in carbon and nitrogen isotopic signatures in different compartments of a single lake ecosystem. Stable isotope analyses were made on samples of particulate organic matter (POM), zooplankton, periphyton, macrophytes, macroinvertebrates and fish collected from several locations throughout the ice‐free period. 2. No spatial variation in δ¹³C or δ¹⁵N values was found for pelagic samples of POM and zooplankton. However, pelagic δ¹⁵N signatures increased steadily through the summer resulting in an almost 6‰ average increase in POM and zooplankton. A concurrent decrease in epilimnetic nitrate concentrations suggested that the increase in δ¹⁵N of POM and zooplankton could have resulted from a progressive ¹⁵N‐enrichment of the available inorganic nitrogen pool as the size of this pool was reduced. 3. Significant spatial variation in isotopic ratios was observed within littoral and profundal communities. Some spatial differences were likely related to lake‐specific characteristics, such as a major inlet and a small harbour area and some were interconnected with temporal events. 4. Marked differences between spring and autumn δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C values of fish at one site probably reflected a spring spawning immigration from a larger downstream lake and also indicated limited dispersal of these immigrants. 5. Our results indicate that restricted sampling of ecosystem components from lakes may provide misleading single values for the isotope end members needed for quantitative uses of stable isotopes in mixing models and for estimating trophic position. Hence we strongly advise that studies of individual lakes, or multiple lake comparisons, that utilise stable isotope analyses should pay more attention to potential within lake spatial and temporal variability of isotope ratios.     

Effect of lipid removal on carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios in crustacean tissues

The analysis of tissue's naturally occurring stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios is a useful tool to delineate trophic relationships. However, the interpretation of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N is complicated by the influence of multiple factors such as the tissue-specific lipid content. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of lipid extraction on δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N compositions in muscle, hepatopancreas and gonads of a marine decapod crustacean, the spider crab Maja brachydactyla. Samples were analyzed for stable isotopes before and after lipid removal, using a derived Soxhlet extraction method. Differences in δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N were measured among tissues before and after treatment. Lipid extraction of muscle did not have a significant effect on either δ¹³C or δ¹⁵N. By contrast, ecologically significant shifts for both carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes ratios (+ 2.9 ± 0.8‰ for δ¹³C, and + 1.2 ± 0.7‰ for δ¹⁵N) were noticed in the hepatopancreas. In regard to gonads, lipid extraction led to a shift only on δ¹³C (+ 1.3 ± 0.3‰). Finally, the derived Soxhlet extraction method removed the lipid influence for δ¹³C, and had an effect on δ¹⁵N composition for lipid-rich samples. We recommend this treatment for carbon stable isotope studies on decapod crustacean lipid-rich tissues.     

Detection of breastfeeding and weaning in modern human infants with carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios

Carbon ((13)C/(12)C) and nitrogen ((15)N/(14)N) stable isotope ratios were longitudinally measured in fingernail and hair samples from mother-infant pairs where infants were exclusively breastfed (n = 5), breast- and formula-fed (n = 2), or exclusively formula-fed (n = 1) from birth. All exclusively breastfed infants had a dual enrichment in carbon ( approximately 1 per thousand) and nitrogen ( approximately 2-3 per thousand) when compared to maternal values. In contrast, breast- and formula-fed subjects had reduced enrichments compared to exclusively breastfed subjects, and the exclusively formula-fed infant showed no increase in delta(13)C or delta(15)N values. This finding of a carbon trophic level effect in breastfeeding infants suggests that (13)C-enrichments of approximately 1 per thousand in archaeological populations are not necessarily the result of the consumption of C(4)-based weaning foods such as maize or millet. During the weaning process, the delta(13)C results for breastfed infants declined to maternal levels more rapidly than the delta(15)N results. This suggests that delta(13)C values have the potential to track the introduction of solid foods into the diet, whereas delta(15)N values monitor the length of time of breast milk consumption. These findings can be used to refine the isotopic analysis of breastfeeding and weaning patterns in past and modern populations.     

Technical Note: Calcium and carbon stable isotope ratios as paleodietary indicators

Calcium stable isotope ratios are hypothesized to vary as a function of trophic level. This premise raises the possibility of using calcium stable isotope ratios to study the dietary behaviors of fossil taxa and to test competing hypotheses on the adaptive origins of euprimates. To explore this concept, we measured the stable isotope composition of contemporary mammals in northern Borneo and northwestern Costa Rica, two communities with functional or phylogenetic relevance to primate origins. We found that bone collagen δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values could differentiate trophic levels in each assemblage, a result that justifies the use of these systems to test the predicted inverse relationship between bioapatite δ¹³C and δ⁴⁴Ca values. As expected, taxonomic carnivores (felids) showed a combination of high δ¹³C and low δ⁴⁴Ca values; however, the δ⁴⁴Ca values of other faunivores were indistinguishable from those of primary consumers. We suggest that the trophic insensitivity of most bioapatite δ⁴⁴Ca values is attributable to the negligible calcium content of arthropod prey. Although the present results are inconclusive, the tandem analysis of δ⁴⁴Ca and δ¹³C values in fossils continues to hold promise for informing paleodietary studies and we highlight this potential by drawing attention to the stable isotope composition of the Early Eocene primate Cantius. Am J Phys Anthropol 154:633–643, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Reconstructing the diets of Greek Byzantine populations (6th-15th centuries AD) using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios

Documentary evidence and artistic representations have traditionally served as the primary sources of information about Byzantine diet. According to these sources, Byzantine diet was based on grain (primarily wheat and barley), oil, and wine, supplemented with legumes, dairy products, meat, and marine resources. Here, we synthesize and compare the results of stable isotope ratio analyses of eight Greek Byzantine populations (6th-15th centuries AD) from throughout Greece. The δ(13) C and δ(15) N values are tightly clustered, suggesting that all of these populations likely consumed a broadly similar diet. Both inland and coastal Byzantine populations consumed an essentially land-based C(3) diet, significant amounts of animal protein, and possibly some C(4) plants, while no evidence of a general dependence on low-δ(15) N legumes was observed. One interesting result observed in the isotopic data is the evidence for the consumption of marine protein at both coastal sites (a reasonable expectation given their location) and for some individuals from inland sites. This pattern contrasts with previous isotopic studies mainly on prehistoric Greek populations, which have suggested that marine species contributed little, or not at all, to the diet. The possibility that fasting practices contributed to marine protein consumption in the period is discussed, as are possible parallels with published isotope data from western European medieval sites.     

Effect of competition on stable carbon isotope ratios of two tussock grass species

Summary Previous studies have shown that plant carbon isotope composition varies when plants experience differences in water and nutrient availability. However, none have addressed the effect of root interactions, including competition for these soil resources, on carbon isotope ratios. We studied the effect of interspecific root interactions on the productivity and carbon isotope ratios of two Great Basin tussock grass species (Agropyron desertorum and Pseudoroegneria spicata). We compared grasses grown in mixture with sagebrush (Artemisia tridentara) to grasses in similar mixtures but where root interactions with sagebrush were limited by fiberglass partitions. During both years of the study, tussocks growing in competition with sagebrush produced tissue with more negative ¹³C values than grasses experiencing limited root interaction with sagebrush. The magnitude of this difference (0.5 to 0.9%) is similar to that found in other studies when soil fertility and moisture availability were altered.     

基于碳、氮稳定同位素的厦门筼筜湖两种优势端足类食性分析

测定了厦门市筼筜湖(内、外湖)大型海藻群落两种优势端足类(强壮藻钩虾Ampitheoe valida和上野蜾蠃蜚Corophium uenoi)及其潜在食源的碳、氮稳定同位素比值(δ~(13)C和δ~(15)N),分析研究了这两种端足类摄食习性的空间变动特征。研究发现,端足类的潜在食源包括悬浮颗粒有机物(Particulate organic matter:POM),沉积有机物(Sedimentary organic matter:SOM),石莼(Ulva lactuca:Ulva)及其表面的附生生物(Epiphytes:Epi),它们的δ~(13)C和δ~(15)N值分别介于-24.0‰(POM)—-11.8‰(Ulva)和-1.7‰(POM)—4.7‰(Ulva)之间。其中,Ulva和POM的δ~(13)C值的内、外湖差异不显著;而外湖SOM和Epi的δ~(13)C值则明显高于内湖。采样区SOM有机质来源的空间差异是其δ~(13)C内、外湖差异的主要原因。除POM外,外湖有机碳源的δ~(15)N明显高于内湖,这与它们利用氮源的δ~(15)N的差异有关。潜在食源稳定同位素组成的空间差异,使得筼筜湖端足类的稳定同位素组成,尤其是δ~(15)N值表现出显著的空间变动特征(强壮藻钩虾和上野蜾蠃蜚δ~(15)N的内、外湖差异高达1.6‰和4.2‰,变幅约1个营养级),但2种端足类食性的空间差异却不尽相同:强壮藻钩虾的食性相对稳定,其δ~(13)C值介于Ulva和Epi之间,表明它主要从Ulva及其表面的Epi获取碳源;而上野蜾蠃蜚的食性内、外湖差异较大:内湖从石莼表面的Epi获取碳源,约20%是来自POM的贡献,而外湖则主要以Ulva及其表面的Epi为食。分析显示,筼筜湖内、外湖端足类δ~(15)N的空间差异并不是端足类的营养级发生了变化,而是由于端足类食源δ~(15)N的空间差异引起的,而不同端足类食性的内、外湖差异则可能与环境中饵料的丰度和生物量密切相关。     

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in muscle and epidermis of arctic whales

Collection of minimally invasive biopsy samples has become an important method to establish normal stable isotopes reference ranges in various wildlife species. Baseline data enhance the understanding of feeding ecology, habitat use, and potential food limitation in apparently healthy, free‐ranging cetaceans. Epidermis and muscle were collected from subsistence‐hunted northern Alaskan bowhead (n= 133 epidermis/134 muscle) and beluga whales (n= 42/49) and subsistence‐hunted Russian gray whales (n= 25/17). Additional samples were obtained from gray whales stranded in California (n= 18/11) during mortality events (1999, 2000). Both δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C are trophic position and benthic/pelagic feeding indicators, respectively, in muscle and epidermis. Epidermis is generally enriched in ¹⁵N over muscle, while epidermal ¹³C is more depleted. Lipid extraction does not alter δ¹⁵N in either tissue, but affects epidermal δ¹³C. Nitrogen‐15 is enriched in muscle, but not epidermis of stranded compared to subsistence‐hunted gray whales, indicating probable protein catabolism and nutritional stress in stranded whales. Similarly, epidermal δ¹³C of harvested whales is lower than in stranded whales, suggesting depleted lipid stores and/or food limitation in stranded animals. Epidermal isotope signatures are similar in both present‐day bowheads and in an ancient sample from the Northern Bering Sea region. Although only one specimen, this suggests trophic level of the ancient whale compares to modern bowheads after a millennium.     

典型海湾与海岛近海脉红螺碳、氮稳定同位素特征差异

为深入了解不同大小脉红螺(Rapana venosa)的碳、氮稳定同位素特征,探究其在典型海湾和海岛水域生态系统所处营养位置,于2022年春季和夏季在胶州湾和长岛近海通过拖网和潜水采集160个脉红螺样本,详细分析了不同体长、体重脉红螺的δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N变化,并计算各研究区域的脉红螺核心生态位宽度及相关参数。结果显示,脉红螺δ¹³C值范围在-22.12‰--16.63‰,四组数据均值为-19.74‰--17.42‰,δ¹⁵N值范围在8.77‰-13.48‰,均值为9.64‰-12.81‰,各组数据营养级均值在2.63-3.57;胶州湾春季脉红螺δ¹³C值与体长、体重呈显著负相关,夏季呈显著正相关,长岛近海区域无明显变化,表明不同季节和不同区域的食物多样性水平存在差异, 胶州湾脉红螺δ¹³C、δ¹⁵N的变化更为突出;两个研究区域δ¹⁵N值和营养级与体长、体重呈显著正相关,主要由于脉红螺摄食偏好性差异,较大的脉红螺倾向于摄食高营养级生物,造成营养级较高。此外,胶州湾脉红螺营养级高于长岛近海,表明其¹⁵N来源更为广泛。营养生态位总面积、δ¹⁵N差值、δ¹³C差值、校正后标准椭圆面积等评价指标,揭示了不同区域、不同季节的脉红螺稳定同位素营养生态位的显著差异,反映了区域地理位置与食物来源对脉红螺δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N的影响。上述研究结果为近海生态系统食物网的构建提供了重要数据,并为区域生物资源的管理和生态系统修复工作提供了科学支撑。     

Controlling for anthropogenically induced atmospheric variation in stable carbon isotope studies

Increased use of stable isotope analysis to examine food-web dynamics, migration, transfer of nutrients, and behavior will likely result in expansion of stable isotope studies investigating human-induced global changes. Recent elevation of atmospheric CO₂ concentration, related primarily to fossil fuel combustion, has reduced atmospheric CO₂ δ¹³C (¹³C/¹²C), and this change in isotopic baseline has, in turn, reduced plant and animal tissue δ¹³C of terrestrial and aquatic organisms. Such depletion in CO₂ δ¹³C and its effects on tissue δ¹³C may introduce bias into δ¹³C investigations, and if this variation is not controlled, may confound interpretation of results obtained from tissue samples collected over a temporal span. To control for this source of variation, we used a high-precision record of atmospheric CO₂ δ¹³C from ice cores and direct atmospheric measurements to model modern change in CO₂ δ¹³C. From this model, we estimated a correction factor that controls for atmospheric change; this correction reduces bias associated with changes in atmospheric isotopic baseline and facilitates comparison of tissue δ¹³C collected over multiple years. To exemplify the importance of accounting for atmospheric CO₂ δ¹³C depletion, we applied the correction to a dataset of collagen δ¹³C obtained from mountain lion (Puma concolor) bone samples collected in California between 1893 and 1995. Before correction, in three of four ecoregions collagen δ¹³C decreased significantly concurrent with depletion of atmospheric CO₂ δ¹³C (n ≥ 32, P ≤ 0.01). Application of the correction to collagen δ¹³C data removed trends from regions demonstrating significant declines, and measurement error associated with the correction did not add substantial variation to adjusted estimates. Controlling for long-term atmospheric variation and correcting tissue samples for changes in isotopic baseline facilitate analysis of samples that span a large temporal range.     

氮稳定同位素技术在陆地生态系统氮循环研究中的应用

在过去几十年中, 氮(N)稳定同位素技术的发展提高了人们对于陆地生态系统氮循环的认识。该文回顾了氮稳定同位素技术在研究生态系统氮循环中的历史, 综述了最近十多年来氮稳定同位素技术在陆地生态系统氮循环研究中的典型案例, 包括利用氮同位素自然丰度鉴定植物氮来源、指示生态系统氮状态和量化过程速率, 利用¹⁵N标记技术示踪氮的去向和再分布等。该文同时指出这些应用中存在的问题, 以及在陆地生态系统上氮稳定同位素技术今后研究的重点发展方向。     

Changes of the forest-savanna boundary in Brazilian Amazonia during the Holocene revealed by stable isotope ratios of soil organic carbon

The possibility of ecosystem boundary changes in northern Brazilian Amazonia during the Holocene period was investigated using soil organic carbon isotope ratios. Determination of past and present fluctuations of the forest-savanna boundary involved the measurement of natural ¹³C isotope abundance, expressed as ¹³C, in soil organic matter (SOM). SOM ¹³C analyses and radiocarbon dating of charcoal fragments were carried out on samples derived from soil profiles taken along transects perpendicular to the ecotonal boundary. SOM ¹³C values in the upper soil horizons appeared to be in equilibrium with the overlying vegetation types and did not point to a movement of the boundary during the last decades. However, ¹³C values obtained from deeper savanna and forest soil layers indicated that the vegetation type has changed in the past. In current savanna soil profiles, we observed the presence of mid-Holocene charcoals derived from forest species: fire frequency at that time was probably greater, and more extensive savanna may have resulted. Isotope data and the presence of these charcoals thus suggest that the forest-savanna boundary has shifted significantly in the recent Holocene period, forest being more extensive during the early Holocene than today. During the middle Holocene, the forest could have strongly regressed, and fires appeared, with a maximum development of the savanna vegetation. At the beginning of the late Holocene, the forest may have invaded a part of this savanna, and fires occurred again.     

预处理及保存方法对浮游动物碳、氮稳定同位素比值的影响

研究了不同预处理及保存方法对浮游动物碳、氮稳定同位素比值的影响.结果表明:未清养的舌状叶镖水蚤PhyHodiaptomus tunguidus与清养3h的相比δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N的差异均不显著,但肠道内含物造成了重复样品间的较大偏差;去除脂肪后的舌状叶镖水蚤δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N均显著升高;经甲醇保存后,舌状叶镖水蚤和奥氏秀体溞Diaphanosoma orghidani transamurensis的δ¹³C均有所升高,但不显著;经乙醇保存后,舌状叶镖水蚤δ¹³C显著升高,而奥氏秀体溞的δ¹³C也有所升高但不显著;经过甲醛保存后,舌状叶镖水蚤和奥氏秀体溞的δ¹³C降低,但不显著;冰冻保存使奥氏秀体溞的δ¹³C显著降低,而使舌状叶镖水蚤的δ¹³C也有所降低但不显著.四种保存方法对舌状叶镖水蚤和奥氏秀体溞的δ¹⁵N都没有显著影响.在进行不同研究间的比较时,必须考虑样品保存与处理方法造成的差异.同时,食物网结构的稳定同位素研究有待建立统一的样品保存与处理方法.     

A stable carbon and nitrogen isotope study of lake food webs in Canada's Boreal Plain

1.  Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope and fish stomach content analyses were used to investigate food webs in five relatively undisturbed lakes on the Boreal Plain of Canada. Stable isotope analysis was also used to determine the importance of external and internal carbon sources.
2.  Overlap in the carbon and nitrogen signatures of primary producers made it difficult to determine unambiguously the feeding habits of many invertebrates. However, isotope analysis suggested that external carbon inputs were detectable in the aquatic food chains of the one lake with a short water residence time («1 year). In the other four lakes, with water residence times ≥1 year, autochthonous carbon was the only detectable carbon source in the food webs.
3.  Food webs in these lakes spanned a range of four to five trophic levels. Both invertebrates and fish appeared to eat a variety of food, often feeding at more than one trophic level.
4.  With the exception of one lake (SPH20), top predators in these lakes, northern pike ( Esox lucius ) and fathead minnows ( Pimephales promelas ), occupied similar trophic positions despite large differences in body size and trophic morphology. In SPH20, where there were two additional fish species, pike occupied a higher trophic position. However, all the top predators in each lake appeared to be omnivores and generalists.
5.  The prevalence of omnivory and the apparent generalist feeding habits of fish in these lakes suggest that organisms are flexible in their feeding habits and that these food webs will be resilient to disturbance.     

Using stable isotopes to trace long-distance dispersal in birds and other taxa

The study of long‐distance dispersal (LDD) in animals may be advanced by recent applications of stable isotope analyses designed to track migratory organisms and to link populations throughout their annual cycle. This approach depends on there being enough isotopic difference in tissues among potential source populations such that individuals can be unequivocally assigned to their source. The isotopic mapping of such populations will be feasible only for species occurring in relatively few disjunct populations. However, the identification of isotopic outliers within known populations will be an extremely useful first step in the forensic application of stable isotopes to identify dispersal in general, and LDD in particular. The use of deuterium isotope analysis (δD) of tissues that can be assigned to its source (e.g. feather moult or its hair growth location) has provided a recent breakthrough in our ability to associate individuals with geographical origins at continental scales. The combination of this stable isotope with others and the ultimate combination of a variety of techniques, including the measurement of trace elements and molecular genetics markers, will undoubtedly improve resolution. The isotopic cataloguing of known history (i.e. philopatric) individuals within populations will be an important step in applying isotope techniques to evaluating LDD in any species. For aquatic insects, the isotopic marking of large numbers of individuals is possible through isotopic enrichment of local food webs using labelled compounds.