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Trophic position of Antarctic amphipods - enhanced analysis by a 2-dimensional biomarker assay
Nyssen, F.; Brey, T.; Dauby, P.; Graeve, M. (2005). Trophic position of Antarctic amphipods - enhanced analysis by a 2-dimensional biomarker assay. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 300: 135-145. dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps300135
In: Marine Ecology Progress Series. Inter-Research: Oldendorf/Luhe. ISSN 0171-8630; e-ISSN 1616-1599
Related to:
Nyssen, F.; Brey, T.; Dauby, P.; Graeve, M. (2005). Trophic position of Antarctic amphipods - enhanced analysis by a 2-dimensional biomarker assay, in: Nyssen, F. Role of benthic amphipods in Antarctic trophodynamics: a multidisciplinary study. pp. 72-104, more
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Authors 
Keywords
    Acids > Organic compounds > Organic acids > Fatty acids
    Biomarkers
    Ecology
    Isotopes > Stable isotopes
    Trophic relationships
    Amphipoda [WoRMS]
    Antarctica [Marine Regions]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    2-dimensional biomarker; trophic relationships; stable isotopes; fatty acids; Amphipoda; Antarctic ecology
Authors  Top 
  • Nyssen, F.
  • Brey, T.
  • Dauby, P.
  • Graeve, M.
Abstract
    The discrepancy between the ecological significance of amphipods in the Antarctic and our poor knowledge of their ecofunctional role calls for a more detailed investigation of their trophic status in this ecosystem. A total of 12 amphipod species from suspension feeder to scavenger have been considered in this study. Our objective was to investigate whether the combination of fatty-acid and stable-isotope signatures into a 2-dimensional trophic biomarker assay would increase accuracy in the identification of Antarctic benthic amphipod trophic position. Amphipod isotopic averages ranged from -29.3‰ (d13C) and 4.1%o (d15N) for the suspension feeder Ampelisca richardsoni to -21.7‰ (d13C) and 11.9‰ (d15N) for the high predator Iphimediella sp. Cluster analysis of the fatty-acid composition separated the amphipod species into 4 trophic groups: suspension feeders, macro-herbivores, omnivores and scavengers. The suspension feeder was isolated due to an important proportion of 18:4(n-3), a fatty-acid biomarker of phytoplankton. Macro-herbivores were found to rely heavily on macroalgal carbon, containing a high percentage of arachidonic acid (20:4(n-6)). Scavenger amphipods revealed a unique fatty-acid composition dominated by 1 single fatty acid, 18:1(n-9), probably the result of a very intensive de novo biosynthesis to cope with starvation periods. Our data emphasise the need to combine different types of information to be able to draw the right conclusions regarding trophic ecology. Indeed, in some cases, the exclusive use of 1 type of tracing method, fatty acids or stable isotopes, would have resulted in misleading/false conclusions in the trophic classification of amphipods. Therefore, a 2-dimensional biomarker assay is a useful tool to elucidate the trophic positions of benthic amphipods.
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