Variablility of stable isotope signatures (delta C-13 and delta N-15) in two spider crab populations (Maja brachydactyla) in Western Europe

Type Article
Date 2007-05
Language English
Author(s) Bodin Nathalie1, 2, Le Loch Francois3, 4, Hily Christian5, Caisey Xavier3, Latrouite Daniel6, Le Guellec Anne-Marie1
Affiliation(s) 1 : IFREMER, BE LBCO, Technopole Brest Iroise, F-29280 Plouzane, France.
2 : Univ Bordeaux 1, CNRS, UMR 5472, LPTC, F-33400 Talence, France.
3 : IFREMER, DYNECO, BENTHOS, Technopole Brest Iroise, F-29280 Plouzane, France.
4 : Ctr Rech Halieut, IRD, UR 070 RAP, F-34203 Sete, France.
5 : Univ Bretagne Occidentale, Inst Univ Europeen Mer, CNRS, LEMAR,UMR 6539, F-29280 Plouzane, France.
6 : IFREMER, STH, UDPP, F-29280 Plouzane, France.
Source Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology (0022-0981) (Elsevier), 2007-05 , Vol. 343 , N. 2 , P. 149-157
DOI 10.1016/j.jembe.2006.09.024
WOS© Times Cited 10
Keyword(s) Migration, Marine decapod crustaceans, Growth, Feeding, Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes
Abstract The ontogenic variations of nitrogen and carbon stable isotopic signatures (delta N-15 and delta C-13) were investigated in two spider crab (Maja brachydactyla) populations inhabiting in different biotopes of Western Europe. The Iroise Sea population is localized in Western Brittany and characterized by a seasonal migration occurring on a large bathymetric and habitat gradient while the Seine Bay population, in the Eastern English Channel, remains in a more homogeneous environment during its migration. In the Iroise Sea population, delta C-13 Values increased significantly both with body size and age, revealing a shift towards "benthic-component" prey with spider crab growth. On the contrary, neither body size nor ageing gave rise to a significant trophic level change (derived from the delta N-15). In this M. brachydactyla population, the seasonal migrations from coastal waters in summer to offshore habitats in winter involved significant but slight differences in both delta C-13 and delta N-15. In the Seine Bay population, low variations for both carbon and nitrogen were recorded related to either sex or size or seasonal migration. Thus, the delta C-13 and delta N-15 variability in the spider crab depends on the availability and diversity of prey in its different living habitats, as well as on the morphological aptitudes of individuals to feed on prey (individual's size). (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Full Text
File Pages Size Access
publication-2535.pdf 21 195 KB Open access
Top of the page

How to cite 

Bodin Nathalie, Le Loch Francois, Hily Christian, Caisey Xavier, Latrouite Daniel, Le Guellec Anne-Marie (2007). Variablility of stable isotope signatures (delta C-13 and delta N-15) in two spider crab populations (Maja brachydactyla) in Western Europe. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 343(2), 149-157. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2006.09.024 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/2535/