Establishment of trophic continuum in the food web of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea ecosystem: Insight from carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) are used to study the trophic structure of food web in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea ecosystem. The trophic continuum of pelagic food web from phytoplankton to top preyer was elementarily established, and a trophic structure diagram in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea was outlined in combination with carbon isotopic data of benthic organisms, which is basically consistent with and makes some improvements on the simplified Yellow Sea food web and the trophic structure diagram drawn based on the biomass of main resource population during 1985–1986. This result indicates that the stable isotope method is a potential useful means for further studying the complete marine food web trophic continuum from viruses to top predators and food web stability.     

Establishment of trophic continuum in the food web of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea ecosystem: Insight from carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes

The determination of trophic level for the biology in a marine ecosystem is very important as alteration of its structure and function may be reflected in the tro-phic level of component species. A change in trophic level indicates variation in an organism’s feeding bi-ology or in the pathway of energy flow from primary producers to the consumer. The gut content analysis is a traditional method for studying trophodynamics of food web in marine ecosystems. Species composition and amounts in al…     

稳定性同位素技术在生态学上的应用

稳定性同位素技术早在20世纪70年代末期就被引入到生态学领域。最初是利用植物稳定性碳同位素的差异。开展了许多有关营养流动方面的研究;到90年代,稳定性碳和氮同位素被用来分析动物的食性、营养级位置关系以及食物链结构;本世纪初,由于技术的进步,稳定性同位素(特别是氢同位素)被用来开展动物迁徙习性方面的研究。到目前为止,国内有关这方面的研究还鲜有报道,而且对自然界存在的稳定性同位素的理解还存在一定偏差。本文主要介绍了稳定性同位素效应及其分馏原理、稳定性同位素在示踪动物食性信息、确定营养级位置关系、分析食物网结构以及研究动物迁徙生态学中的作用等方面的内容。     

不同林型地表甲虫食性及营养级关系：基于碳氮稳定同位素分析

土壤动物联结着生态系统地上与地下部分的物质循环和能量流动,对生态系统的结构、功能及过程起着重要的调控作用。地表甲虫作为典型的大型土壤动物,在食物网中占有重要的位置,因此对不同林型地表甲虫的δ¹³C、δ¹⁵N同位素特征及营养关系研究对了解森林土壤动物的食性特征进而保护森林生物多样性是十分必要的。采集了小兴安岭凉水自然保护区6种不同林型的地表甲虫共10科31种,利用稳定同位素技术测定了甲虫中的δ¹³C、δ¹⁵N含量,并分析不同林型内地表甲虫的δ¹³C、δ¹⁵N值及营养级差异。结果表明6、7月份不同林型地表甲虫的δ¹³C、δ¹⁵N值差异显著(P<0.05),其中δ¹³C值在原始阔叶红松林和次生白桦林显著高于落叶松人工林和阔叶红松择伐林。δ¹⁵N值在阔叶红松择伐林显著高于其他5种林型。不同林型地表甲虫的营养级差异显著(P<0.05),林型内各物种营养级差异不显著(P...     

应用稳定同位素技术构建胶州湾食物网的连续营养谱

根据2011年春季和秋季在胶州湾进行的渔业资源综合调查,应用稳定同位素示踪技术,分析了胶州湾主要渔业生物的碳、氮稳定同位素比值(δ13C,δ15N),并计算其营养级,进而构建胶州湾食物网的连续营养谱。分析的生物种类包括浮游植物、浮游动物、大型无脊椎动物和鱼类,其生物量之和占总渔获量的95%。结果表明,胶州湾食物网的δ13C值范围是-25.63‰—-17.16‰,跨度为8.47‰,平均值为(-19.42±1.80)‰;δ15N值范围是4.15‰—14.11‰,跨度为9.96‰,平均值为(11.98±1.77)‰。胶州湾食物网中的主要生物种类可以划分为4个营养组群,即初级生产者、初级消费者、次级消费者以及顶级捕食者。δ15N值分析显示,胶州湾主要生物种类的营养级范围是1.10—4.03。与文献中基于胃含物分析计算的营养级相比较,37个种类中有29种的营养级分析结果基本一致(在0.5个营养级的误差范围之内)。因此,氮稳定同位素法是一种研究水生生态系统食物网营养位置的有效方法。其中,有8种鱼类的营养级与历史文献相比有所下降,分析方法的不同可能是原因之一,此外,这些鱼种摄食饵料生物营养级的下降也是导致其营养级降低的另一个主要原因。根据营养级计算的结果,构建了胶州湾食物网的连续营养谱,胶州湾食物网中,绝大多数生物种类都属于初级和中级肉食性种类。     

冶金区节肢动物碳、氮稳定同位素组成及营养级关系

通过测定辽宁省葫芦岛锌厂不同生境植物和主要消费者的碳、氮稳定同位素比值,研究冶金区不同消费者碳、氮稳定同位素组成及不同消费者之间的关系.结果表明:节肢动物δ13C、δ15N值的变化范围分别为-12.61‰～-29.63‰、1.73‰～9.94‰,变化幅度较大.研究区植物以C3植物居多,导致不同群落生境动物δ13C值较低;螳螂、蜘蛛δ15N比值高于其他动物;通过营养级模型计算可知不同消费者之间的关系,蝗虫、蚱蜢等草食性动物形成第二营养级,即初级消费者;第三营养级包括蜘蛛、螳螂,为次级消费者.     

Measuring the trophic ecology of ants using stable isotopes

Ants are prominent components of most terrestrial arthropod food webs, yet due to their highly variable diet, the role ants play in arthropod communities can be difficult to resolve. Stable isotope analysis is a promising method for determining the dietary history of an organism, and has the potential to advance our understanding of the food web ecology of social insects. However, some unique characteristics of eusocial organisms can complicate the application of this technique to the study of their trophic ecology. Using stable isotopes of N and C, we investigated levels of intraspecific variation both within and among colonies. We also examined the effect of a common preservation technique on δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C values. We discuss the implications of our results on experimental design and sampling methods for studies using stable isotopes to investigate the trophic ecology of social insects. Received 4 February 2005; revised 23 June 2005; accepted 4 July 2005.     

Beyond trophic morphology: stable isotopes reveal ubiquitous versatility in marine turtle trophic ecology

The idea that interspecific variation in trophic morphology among closely related species effectively permits resource partitioning has driven research on ecological radiation since Darwin first described variation in beak morphology among Geospiza. Marine turtles comprise an ecological radiation in which interspecific differences in trophic morphology have similarly been implicated as a pathway to ecopartition the marine realm, in both extant and extinct species. Because marine turtles are charismatic flagship species of conservation concern, their trophic ecology has been studied intensively using stable isotope analyses to gain insights into habitat use and diet, principally to inform conservation management. This legion of studies provides an unparalleled opportunity to examine ecological partitioning across numerous hierarchical levels that heretofore has not been applied to any other ecological radiation. Our contribution aims to provide a quantitative analysis of interspecific variation and a comprehensive review of intraspecific variation in trophic ecology across different hierarchical levels marshalling insights about realised trophic ecology derived from stable isotopes. We reviewed 113 stable isotope studies, mostly involving single species, and conducted a meta‐analysis of data from adults to elucidate differences in trophic ecology among species. Our study reveals a more intricate hierarchy of ecopartitioning by marine turtles than previously recognised based on trophic morphology and dietary analyses. We found strong statistical support for interspecific partitioning, as well as a continuum of intraspecific trophic sub‐specialisation in most species across several hierarchical levels. This ubiquity of trophic specialisation across many hierarchical levels exposes a far more complex view of trophic ecology and resource‐axis exploitation than suggested by species diversity alone. Not only do species segregate along many widely understood axes such as body size, macrohabitat, and trophic morphology but the general pattern revealed by isotopic studies is one of microhabitat segregation and variation in foraging behaviour within species, within populations, and among individuals. These findings are highly relevant to conservation management because they imply ecological non‐exchangeability, which introduces a new dimension beyond that of genetic stocks which drives current conservation planning. Perhaps the most remarkable finding from our data synthesis is that four of six marine turtle species forage across several trophic levels. This pattern is unlike that seen in other large marine predators, which forage at a single trophic level according to stable isotopes. This finding affirms suggestions that marine turtles are robust sentinels of ocean health and likely stabilise marine food webs. This insight has broader significance for studies of marine food webs and trophic ecology of large marine predators. Beyond insights concerning marine turtle ecology and conservation, our findings also have broader implications for the study of ecological radiations. Particularly, the unrecognised complexity of ecopartitioning beyond that predicted by trophic morphology suggests that this dominant approach in adaptive radiation research likely underestimates the degree of resource overlap and that interspecific disparities in trophic morphology may often over‐predict the degree of realised ecopartitioning. Hence, our findings suggest that stable isotopes can profitably be applied to study other ecological radiations and may reveal trophic variation beyond that reflected by trophic morphology.     

Use of carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in termite research

In this paper, I review carbon and nitrogen isotopic (natural abundance levels) studies of termites. The carbon isotope ratio of CH₄ emitted from termites, together with the emission rates of CO₂, CH₄ and H₂, showed several trends corresponding to the kinds of symbiotic microbes and feeding habits. The fraction of methane oxidized in the nest structure was estimated by comparing carbon isotope ratio of CH₄ emitted from the nest with that produced by termites in the nest. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in the gut of termites has been shown to have a significant contribution to the nitrogen economy in some wood-feeding termites. The carbon isotope ratio distinguishes between C4 from C3 plants, and the fractional contribution of grass in the diet can thereby be estimated. The carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in termites are discernible among soil-feeders, fungus cultivators and wood-feeders. Wood/soil-interface feeders have intermediate values between wood- and soil-feeders, and thus carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios are assumed to characterize the degree of humification of the material consumed by termites. It is suggested that carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios are useful indicators of the functional position of termites in the decomposition process. A similar isotope pattern has been obtained in earthworms, suggesting that isotope signatures might be useful parameters in investigating detritivorous animals in general.     

基于稳定同位素技术的长湖鱼类营养结构研究

本研究应用碳、氮稳定同位素技术分析了2017年秋季（10月）和2018年春季（3月）湖北省荆州长湖鱼类营养结构特征,构建了δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N稳定同位素双位图,并计算了7个相关的量化指标。结果显示：所采集的16种鱼类,δ¹³C均值范围为（-27.7±0.8）‰~（-24.8±0.1）‰,δ¹⁵N的均值范围为（11.4±0.3）‰~（16.6±0.5）‰。营养生态位分析显示,长湖鱼类以偏肉食性鱼类黄颡鱼的营养级最高（3.28±0.2）,草鱼的营养级最低（1.74±0.1）。稳定同位素的量化指标表明,长湖春季鱼类群落核心生态位空间（standard ellipse area, SEA）、生态位总空间（total area, TA）和基础食物来源（δ¹³C range, CR）均高于秋季,两个季度的营养多样性（centrifugal distance, CD）和鱼类群落的整体密度（mean nearest neighbor distance, MNND）相似,但春季的营养长度（δ¹⁵N range, NR）和鱼类群落营养生态位分布范围（standard deviation of nearest neighbor distance, SDNND）值低于秋季。说明春季长湖的生态位总空间（TA上升）和基础食物来源（CR上升）较为丰富,但因鱼类种类的食性相近,其群落的总食物链降低（NR下降）。该研究可为分析拆围后长湖鱼类群落结构特征积累基础数据,也为长湖的渔业管理策略提供依据。     

Trophic level delineation and resource partitioning in a South African afromontane forest bird community using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes

Southern African forests are naturally fragmented yet hold a disproportionately high number of bird species. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes were measured in feathers from birds captured at Woodbush (n = 27 species), a large afromontane forest in the eastern escarpment of Limpopo province, South Africa. The δ¹³C signatures of a range of forest plants were measured to categorise the food base. Most plants sampled, including two of five grass species, had δ¹³C signatures typical of a C₃ photosynthetic pathway (?29.5 ± 1.9‰). Three grass species had a C₄ signature (?12.0 ± 0.6‰). Most bird species had δ¹³C values representing a predominantly C₃‐based diet (?24.8‰ to ?20.7‰). δ¹⁵N values were as expected, with higher levels of enrichment associated with a greater proportion of dietary animal matter. The cohesive isotopic niche defining most species (n = 22), where the ranges for δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N were 2.4‰ and 3.4‰, respectively, highlight the difficulties in understanding diets of birds in a predominantly C₃‐based ecosystem using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes. However, variation in isotopic values between and within species provides insight into possible niche width and the use of resources by different birds within a forest environment.     

稳定同位素分析在昆虫生态研究中的应用

综述了稳定同位素分析的原理与方法以及应用于昆虫生态研究的理论基础与进展,并对其发展前景进行初步探讨。该方法的应用以寄主植物同位素组成差异为前提,常用的同位素包括 D,13C,15N和18O,主要涉及确定食物来源,探寻寄主间转移规律及迁移路线、生态系统中物质与能量流动、食物网构建等方面。对长期保存标本与昆虫化石的同位素分析则扩展了研究的时间范围。同位素转化时间的确定、质量平衡方程和混合模型的应用则是验证相关生态问题的重要步骤;生态、生理和生化过程对同位素分馏的影响尚需深入研究。     

大亚湾冬季不同粒级浮游生物的氮稳定同位素特征及其与生物量的关系

生物量在营养级上的分布作为一种生态系统的指示指标,可以指示因人类干扰和环境变化导致的生态系统的改变,揭示生态系统功能的差异性。调查了冬季大亚湾不同区域各粒级浮游生物的生物量大小及其氮稳定同位素丰度比值(δ¹⁵N)与环境因子的关系,通过构建营养级谱比较了大亚湾不同区域浮游食物网结构的差异。研究结果显示,浮游生物的δ¹⁵N值基本随着粒径的增大而增加,但100-212 μm粒级的δ¹⁵N值为5.08‰,略低于1.2-100 μm粒级的5.58‰。> 500 μm 粒级的δ¹⁵N值最大,平均为8.16‰。在湾口和敞水带的S1、S9站各粒级的δ¹⁵N都要小于其他站位,而各粒级δ¹⁵N的最大值一般都出现在湾底的S8站。在各粒级颗粒物中,1.2-100 μm粒级的δ¹⁵N最适合用来指示水体的环境状况,受陆源输入影响较小的海域的δ¹⁵N值小。生物量与氮稳定同位素构建的营养级谱的斜率与总溶解氮的浓度和氮磷比呈显著负相关关系。处于湾口的站位的营养级谱的谱线要更陡峭一些,表明该处捕食者/被捕食者的比率更低。     

Alteration of trophic interactions between periphyton and invertebrates in an acidified stream: a stable carbon isotope study

The hypothesis according to which proliferation of periphytic algae under acid conditions results from a release of grazing pressure is tested. Stable carbon isotope analysis is used to investigate the autochthonous/allochthonous balance of invertebrate feeding in streamside artificial channels that were experimentally acidified. We find that the relative contribution of autochthonous food sources (epilithon) to total invertebrate biomass was slightly lower (after 1 mo of acidification) or not altered (after 2 mo) under acidified conditions when compared with a control. Feeding shifts were exhibited by some invertebrate taxa and provided evidence that acidification modifies trophic interactions between attached algae and primary consumers. Cross-treatment calculations showed that reduction of grazing pressure after the first month of acidification was an effect rather than the cause of periphyton proliferation. Our approach using stable carbon isotope analysis and biomass measurements of macroinvertebrates allows the quantification of the trophic base of lotic secondary producer communities under both experimental and natural conditions.     

应用稳定同位素测定贵州凤冈麻湾洞洞穴陆生动物的食物来源及营养级

以贵州凤冈麻湾洞洞穴生态系统为研究对象,运用δ¹³C、δ¹⁵N测定了洞穴动物及其有机碳源的同位素比值,分析了洞穴生态系统的营养级关系及洞穴动物食源。结果表明:洞内植物δ¹³C范围为-41. 78‰～-38. 80‰,较洞外植物低;δ¹⁵N范围为-1. 31‰～1.23‰,在洞外陆源有机质δ¹⁵N范围内;洞穴土壤有机质的δ¹³C范围为-31. 09‰～-24.95‰,δ¹⁵N范围为-1.08‰～7.72‰;洞穴动物δ¹³C范围为-30.41‰～-12.02‰,δ¹⁵N范围为2.07‰～8.94‰;洞穴土壤有机质对动物的食源贡献率超过72%,远高于植物对动物的食源贡献率,即洞穴土壤有机质是洞穴动物的主要食物来源。麻湾洞生态系统主要由4个营养层次组成:植物为第一营养层次;闪夜蛾、螺类、马陆类处于第二营养层次;裸灶螽、长头地蜈蚣处于第三营养层次;蜘蛛类处于第三或第四营养层次。即大部分同种(或同类群)...     

厦门同安湾定置网捕获鱼类的多样性及营养级特征

利用2012年4月至2013年3月在同安湾进行的定置网渔业资源调查资料, 探讨了该海域鱼类多样性及平均营养级特征。结果表明, 周年逐月共鉴定鱼类112种, 隶属于15目53科88属。渔获物组成以沿岸小型底层鱼类为主, 其中中上层鱼类15种, 中下层鱼类18种, 底层鱼类79种; 暖水性种类84种, 暖温性种类28种, 亚热带动物区系特征明显; 杂食性鱼类8种, 低级肉食性鱼类71种, 中级肉食性鱼类30种, 高级肉食性鱼类3种, 以低级肉食性鱼类为主。中华海鲶(Tachysurus sinensis)是夏、秋、冬三季的优势种, 六指多指马鲅(Polydactylus sextarius)、锯脊塘鳢(Butis koilomatodon)和髭缟鰕虎鱼(Tridentiger barbatus)是春、冬两季的优势种。重量和尾数多样性指数最高值均在11月, 分别为3.26和3.29; 最低值均在2月, 分别为1.78和1.77。鱼类种类存在明显的季节更替现象, 其月更替率6月最低, 为40.1%; 3月最高, 达68.6%。鱼类平均营养级也存在明显的季节变化, 其中3月最低, 为3.02; 1月最高, 为3.92; 周年平均营养级为3.52。与2003年调查资料相比, 鱼类种类数明显减少, 鱼类组成和优势种发生了很大的变化, 导致变化的主要原因可能是过度捕捞、栖息地破坏和环境污染等。     

Trophic fractionation of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in Chironomus riparius reared on food of aquatic and terrestrial origin

1. Trophic fractionation was studied in short‐term laboratory feeding experiments with larvae of the deposit‐feeding midge Chironomus riparius. Larvae were fed food of terrestrial (oats, peat) and aquatic origin (Spirulina, Tetraphyll^®). 2. By analysing both whole larvae and isolated gut contents we were able to distinguish between the isotopic signature of recently ingested food and that of assimilated carbon and nitrogen in body tissue. Additionally we studied the effects of microbial conditioning, i.e. the colonisation and growth on food particles of microbes, on the isotopic signal of food resources. 3. Nitrogen fractionation for the different food types ranged from 0.67‰ to 2.68‰ between consumer and diet and showed that isotopic fractionation can be much lower than the value of 3.4‰ that is commonly assumed. 4. Microbial degradation of food particles resulted in an approximate doubling of the δ¹⁵N in 8 days, from 6.24 ± 0.05‰ to 11.36 ± 0.56‰. Values for δ¹³C increased only marginally, from ?20.66 ± 0.11‰ to ?20.34 ± 0.12‰. These results show that microbial conditioning of food may affect dietary isotope signatures (in particular N) and, unless accounted for, could introduce an error in measures of trophic fractionation. Microbial conditioning could well account for some of the variation in fractionation reported in the literature.     

基于稳定同位素的湿地食物源判定和食物网构建研究进展

湿地生物营养动力学是湿地生态系统结构和功能评价研究的基础.碳、氮稳定同位素作为识别营养关系的方法,已在湿地生态系统食物来源、组成和食物链传递研究中得到广泛运用.本文系统综述了稳定同位素食物贡献度计算模型和营养级确定的基本方法和理论;讨论了动物营养分馏值和基线的选择依据;概括了湿地生态系统典型食物源及其稳定同位素变化特征;总结了草食、杂食和肉食等不同营养级动物的食物来源.指出了稳定同位素在湿地食物源溯源和食物网研究中的不足;基于国内外研究现状和发展趋势及需求,展望了未来同位素技术在湿地食物网生态学研究中的运用前景和研究重点,提出需要加强稳定同位素营养分馏和基线的影响因素、样品处理和保存方式研究以及胃含物、分子标记物和多元素同位素结合分析.