The same but different: stable isotopes reveal two distinguishable, yet similar, neighbouring food chains in a coral reef
Le Bourg, B.; Letourneur, Y.; Banaru, D.; Blanchot, J.; Chevalier, C.; Mou-Tham, G.; Lebreton, B.; Pagano, M. (2018). The same but different: stable isotopes reveal two distinguishable, yet similar, neighbouring food chains in a coral reef. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 98(7): 1589-1597. https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0025315417001370 In: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Cambridge University Press/Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom: Cambridge. ISSN 0025-3154; e-ISSN 1469-7769, more |  |
| Keywords | Teleostei [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal | | Author keywords | barrier reef; particulate organic matter; zooplankton; reef teleosts;stable isotopes; Pacific Ocean |
| Authors | | Top | - Le Bourg, B., more
- Letourneur, Y.
- Banaru, D.
- Blanchot, J.
| - Chevalier, C.
- Mou-Tham, G.
- Lebreton, B.
- Pagano, M.
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| Abstract | Stable isotope compositions were studied in particulate organic matter (POM), zooplankton and different trophic groups of teleosts to compare food chains based on plankton at two sites (lagoon and outer slope) in a New Caledonian coral reef. For each trophic compartment, δ13C values were always lower in the outer slope than in the lagoon. This result may be explained by potential differences in POM composition between the two environments, suggesting that the two food chains are based on different primary sources of carbon. In contrast, δ15N values did not vary between the lagoon and the outer slope, indicating that these two food chains presented similar length and trophic levels, despite being distinguishable. |
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