A relative contribution of carbon from green tide algae Cladophora glomerata and Ulva intestinalis in the coastal food webs in the Neva Estuary (Baltic Sea). (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Golubkov, Sergey M.; Berezina, Nadezhda A.; Gubelit, Yulia I.; Demchuk, Anna S.; Golubkov, Mikhail S.; Tiunov, Alexei V.
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 126(2018)
• Page Start: 43
• Page End: 50
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Coastal eutrophication -- Gulf of Finland -- Macroalgae -- Macroinvertebrates -- Fish -- Stable isotopes (Bayesian mixing model); Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.10.032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: We analyzed stable isotope composition of carbon and nitrogen of suspended organic matter (seston) and tissues of macroalgae, macroinvertebrates and fish from the coastal area of the highly eutrophic Neva Estuary to test a hypothesis that organic carbon of macroalgae Cladophora glomerata and Ulva intestinalis produced during green tides may be among primary sources supporting coastal food webs. The Stable Isotope Bayesian mixing model (SIAR) showed that consumers poorly use organic carbon produced by macroalgae. According to the results of SIAR modeling, benthic macroinvertebrates and fish mostly rely on pelagic derived carbon as a basal resource for their production. Only some species of macroinvertebrates consumed macroalgae. Fish used this resource directly consuming zooplankton or indirectly via benthic macroinvertebrates. This was consistent with the results of the gut content analysis, which revealed a high proportion of zooplankton in the guts of non-predatory fish. Highlights: Stable isotope analysis showed that organic carbon produced by macroalgae was poorly used by consumers. According to SIAR model pelagic derived carbon was a basal resource supporting coastal food webs. Only few grazers effectively consumed macroalgae. Green tides contaminate the coastal zone of the estuary by excessive amount of organic matter.