Trophic structure of vermetid reef community: High trophic diversity at small spatial scales |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women''s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115, USA;2. New York Spine Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, 761 Merrick Ave, Westbury, NY 11590, USA;3. Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02214, USA;4. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02214, USA;1. North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, 100 Eugene Brooks Avenue, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA;2. U.S. Geological Survey, North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, 100 Eugene Brooks Avenue, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA |
| |
| Abstract: | Stable isotopes were used to investigate contributions of autochthonous (i.e. benthic: epilithon and macroalgae) and allochthonous (i.e. pelagic: phytoplankton) organic matter sources to the diet of suspension-feeders, grazers and predators associated to small reef-pools (cuvettes) created by the reef-building species Dendropoma petraeum in the north-western coast of Sicily (Italy). Contributions of potential food sources were calculated using Bayesian mixing-models and integrated to a multivariate approach to highlight the diversity of C and N pathways within Dendropoma cuvettes. Both pelagic and benthic organic matter sources were exploited by benthic consumers, although clear differences were revealed in the various species depending on their feeding strategy. Three different trophic pathways were identified: one based mainly on phytoplankton, one based mainly on macroalgae and a third one mainly on epilithon. Suspension-feeders seemed to rely mainly on allochthonous organic matter sources, while grazers showed a wider diet spectrum. Predators revealed a high specialization in each of the three food chains and showed a distinct reliance on organic matter originated from benthic or pelagic sources. Stable isotopes evidenced here a marked differentiation of the trophic niche within the cuvette-associated community, which allows minimizing competition in very space-limited conditions. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ |
|
