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Trophic relationships in the nearshore zone of Martel Inlet (King George Island, Antarctica): δ13C stable-isotope analysis

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Abstract

Carbon isotopic composition was used to assess the linkage between three different potential sources of energy and the community in the shallow coastal zone of Martel Inlet. Stable δ13C ratios ranged from −28.7‰ for the zooplankton plus phytoplankton to −14.4‰ for the grazer Nacella concinna. Microphytobenthos (−16.7‰) was considerably more enriched in 13C than were suspended particulate matter (SPM) (−25.6‰) and macroalgal fragments (−23.6‰ and −21.1‰), indicating that stable carbon isotope analysis might be used to discern the relative contribution of these sources of primary production. There is a benthic-pelagic coupling between plankton, benthic suspensivores, the ophiuroid Ophionotus victoriae and the icefish Chaenocephalus aceratus. Benthic grazers such as N. concinna, deposit feeders such as Yoldia eightsi and the nematodes showed a tight coupling with the microphytobenthos and the sediment. Some omnivorous/depositivorous polychaetes, echinoids, amphipods and the fish Notothenia coriiceps showed values close to the ratios of the macroalgal fragments. Benthic carnivores and/or scavengers were generally enriched over suspensivores and depleted in relation to microphytobenthos grazers, showing a considerable overlap in δ13C values throughout the food web, without any clear coupling with the primary sources of organic matter. The trophic web in the shallow zone of high benthic production and under seasonal ice cover in the Antarctic is more complex than it is in shelf areas, where SPM is the main food source. The soft-bottom community in the shallow zone of Martel Inlet is enriched in 13C due to the significant input of carbon from the microphytobenthos and macroalgal fragments.

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Acknowledgements

This research project was made possible through support provided by the CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento), SeCIRM (Secretaria da Comissão Interministerial para os Recursos do Mar), under the scope of PROANTAR (Brazilian Antarctic Program) and the Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo. Special thanks are due to the Volkswagen Foundation for the donation of the diving gear and to Luciano C. Candisani for the help given with the diving, and to Marizilda Magro for the drawings. We also thank Dr Claude De Broyer for his valuable help and two anonymous reviewers for their comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil

    Thaïs N. Corbisier & Monica A. V. Petti

  2. Analytical Solutions, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Rodrigo S. P. Skowronski

  3. Ministério do Meio Ambiente, 70500, Brasília, Brazil

    Tania A. S. Brito

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  1. Thaïs N. Corbisier
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  2. Monica A. V. Petti
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  3. Rodrigo S. P. Skowronski
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  4. Tania A. S. Brito
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Correspondence to Thaïs N. Corbisier.

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Corbisier, T.N., Petti, M.A.V., Skowronski, R.S.P. et al. Trophic relationships in the nearshore zone of Martel Inlet (King George Island, Antarctica): δ13C stable-isotope analysis. Polar Biol 27, 75–82 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-003-0567-z

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