Marine Science Faculty Publications
Seasonal δ13C and δ15N Isoscapes of Fish Populations along a Continental Shelf Trophic Gradient
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2013
Keywords
Stable isotope, C and N pathways, Isoscape, Marine food web, Animal migration
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2013.08.010
Abstract
The West Florida Shelf, located in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, transitions from a eutrophic ecosystem dominated by the Mississippi River plume to mesotrophic and oligotrophic ecosystems off the coast of peninsular Florida. Three extensive trawl surveys in this region were used to acquire samples of fish muscle, benthic algae from sea urchin stomach contents, and filtered particulate organic matter (POM) to create δ13C and δ15N isoscapes. Muscle δ15N from three widely distributed fish species, Synodus foetens (inshore lizardfish), Calamus proridens (littlehead porgy), and Syacium papillosum (dusky flounder), exhibited strong longitudinal correlations (Pearson′s r=−0.67 to −0.90, p<0.001) that coincided with the principal trophic gradient, whereas δ13C values of fish muscle and benthic algae were correlated with depth (Pearson′s r=−0.34 to −0.73, p<0.05). Correlations between isotopic values and surface concentrations of chlorophyll and particulate organic carbon (POC) imply linkages between the isotopic baseline and transitions from eutrophic to oligotrophic waters. The δ13C depth gradient and the δ15N longitudinal gradient were consistent between seasons and years, providing a foundation for future stable isotope studies of animal migration in the Gulf of Mexico.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Continental Shelf Research, v. 68, p. 112-122
Scholar Commons Citation
Radabaugh, Kara R.; Hollander, David J.; and Peebles, Ernst B., "Seasonal δ13C and δ15N Isoscapes of Fish Populations along a Continental Shelf Trophic Gradient" (2013). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 2268.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/2268
