Food choice of Antarctic soil arthropods clarified by stable isotope signatures |
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Authors: | S Bokhorst C Ronfort A Huiskes P Convey R Aerts |
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Institution: | (1) Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Korringaweg 7, 4401 NT Yerseke, The Netherlands;(2) Natural Environmental Research Council, British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK;(3) Institute of Ecological Science, Department of Systems Ecology, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | Antarctic soil ecosystems are amongst the most simplified on Earth and include only few soil arthropod species, generally
believed to be opportunistic omnivorous feeders. Using stable isotopic analyses, we investigated the food choice of two common
and widely distributed Antarctic soil arthropod species using natural abundances of 13C and 15N and an isotope labelling study. In the laboratory we fed the isotomid springtail Cryptopygus antarcticus six potential food sources (one algal species, two lichens and three mosses). Our results showed a clear preference for algae
and lichens rather than mosses. These results were corroborated by field data comparing stable isotope signatures from the
most dominant cryptogams and soil arthropods (C. antarcticus and the oribatid mite Alaskozetes antarcticus). Thus, for the first time in an Antarctic study, we present clear evidence that these soil arthropods show selectivity in
their choice of food and have a preference for algae and lichens above mosses. |
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Keywords: | Alaskozetes antarcticus Antarctic Collembola Cryptopygus antarcticus Food choice |
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