Trophic ecology of suspension-feeding bivalves inhabiting a north-eastern Pacific coastal lagoon: Comparison of different biomarkers. (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mathieu-Resuge, Margaux; Kraffe, Edouard; Le Grand, Fabienne; Boens, Andy; Bideau, Antoine; Lluch-Cota, Salvador E.; Racotta, Ilie S.; Schaal, Gauthier
• Is Part Of: Marine environmental research. Volume 145(2019)
• Page Start: 155
• Page End: 163
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: Coastal zone -- Ojo de liebre -- Suspension-feeders -- Multi-tracer analyses -- Fatty acids -- Stables isotopes -- Sterols; Marine pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Marine ecology -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Écologie marine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 577.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.02.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0141-1136

Abstract

Abstract: Understanding the nature and origins of food sources supporting coastal lagoon-inhabiting organisms is necessary to evaluate the ecological status of such ecosystems. The trophic ecology of a bivalve species Spondylus crassisquama was studied in the Ojo de Liebre lagoon (Baja California, Mexico), combining stable isotope (SI), fatty acid (FA) and sterol analyses along a transect under oceanic influences. The second objective of the study was to investigate if sterol compositions give complementary information to those obtained from FA and SI. Temporal and spatial patterns of the three biomarkers in bivalve tissues suggest oceanic inputs at the mouth of the lagoon, while the inner station was characterized by a contribution of local sources including an important role of micro heterotrophs. This study revealed that the association of lipid biomarkers provide higher taxonomic resolution of the spatiotemporal heterogeneity in nutrient sources influencing the trophic functioning of a large coastal lagoon. Highlights: Stable isotopes fatty acids and sterols were used to characterize the diet of bivalves. A transect was sampled in a coastal lagoon with increasing distance from the mouth. Bivalves at the entrance of the lagoon relied on oceanic phytoplankton inputs. Bivalves in the inner lagoon relied on local microbial food web. Lipid biomarkers and SI were complementary to distinguish the food sources origins.