A preliminary study on the food resources and trophic levels of the benthic community in the Yap Trench based on stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes

Guo Chengyang; Yang Zhi; Chen Jianfang; Zheng Hao; Zhang Dongsheng; Ran Lihua; Wang Chunsheng; Lu Bo; Chen Qianna

doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2018.10.006

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Guo Chengyang, Yang Zhi, Chen Jianfang, Zheng Hao, Zhang Dongsheng, Ran Lihua, Wang Chunsheng, Lu Bo, Chen Qianna. A preliminary study on the food resources and trophic levels of the benthic community in the Yap Trench based on stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2018, 40(10): 51-60. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2018.10.006

Citation:

Guo Chengyang, Yang Zhi, Chen Jianfang, Zheng Hao, Zhang Dongsheng, Ran Lihua, Wang Chunsheng, Lu Bo, Chen Qianna. A preliminary study on the food resources and trophic levels of the benthic community in the Yap Trench based on stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2018, 40(10): 51-60. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2018.10.006

Citation:

Guo Chengyang, Yang Zhi, Chen Jianfang, Zheng Hao, Zhang Dongsheng, Ran Lihua, Wang Chunsheng, Lu Bo, Chen Qianna. A preliminary study on the food resources and trophic levels of the benthic community in the Yap Trench based on stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2018, 40(10): 51-60. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2018.10.006

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A preliminary study on the food resources and trophic levels of the benthic community in the Yap Trench based on stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes

doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2018.10.006

1.
Institute of Environment and Marine Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316021, China;Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem and Biogeochemistry, Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Hangzhou 310012, China
2.
Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem and Biogeochemistry, Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Hangzhou 310012, China
3.
Institute of Environment and Marine Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316021, China

Received Date: 2018-04-22
Rev Recd Date: 2018-06-04

Abstract

Abstract

The deep-sea benthic community in the Yap Trench is highly food limited, with low biomass but high biodiversity. To investigate the food resources and trophic levels of the benthic community in the Yap Trench, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of phytoplankton, zooplankton, sedimentary organic matter and megabenthos (include Porifera, Holothuroidea, ophiuroidea, Asteroidea, Actiniaria, Gammaridea) were analyzed. The phytoplankton and zooplankton in the euphotic zone of the Yap Trench is the original food resources for the benthic community. However, the δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of phytoplankton[δ¹³C=(-22.8±0.4)‰,δ¹⁵N=(5.4±0.4)‰] and zooplankton[δ¹³C=(-21.8±0.8)‰,δ¹⁵N=(6.8±0.2)‰] were significantly different from those of mega benthos (δ¹³C values ranged from -20.1‰ to -16.8‰,δ¹⁵N values ranged from 11.9‰ to 17.9‰), indicating the organic matter produced in the surface water had been modified by zooplankton assimilation and bacteriological degradation during sinking. No significant correlation between δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of benthic tissue was found, indicating differential preference of organic matter for benthos. Trophic levels of specific deep-sea consumers were calculated, which showed the trophic level of Porifera was higher (3.4-4.7) than those of other benthos, including Gammaridea (2.9-3.3), Actiniaria (3.1), Holothuroidea (3.3-3.6), Ophiuroidea (3.4-3.5) and Asteroidea (3.2-3.7). It implied that different benthic feeders had a variety of feeding strategies to get diversified food resources.
- Yap Trench,
- stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes,
- benthic community,
- food resources,
- trophic level

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