Trophic niche of two co-occurring ophiuroid species in impacted coastal systems, derived from fatty acid and stable isotope analyses
| Type | Article | ||||||||||||
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| Date | 2015-04-09 | ||||||||||||
| Language | English | ||||||||||||
| Author(s) | Blanchet-Aurigny Aline1, Dubois Stanislas 1, Quere Claudie2, Guillou Monique3, Pernet Fabrice2 |
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| Affiliation(s) | 1 : IFREMER, Ctr Bretagne, Dept Oceanog & Dynam Ecosyst, Lab Ecol Benth, F-29280 Plouzane, France. 2 : Ctr Bretagne, Lab Physiol Fonct Organismes Marins, IFREMER, LEMAR UMR CNRS IRD 6539, F-29280 Plouzane, France. 3 : Univ Bretagne Occidentale, LEMAR UMR CNRS IRD 6539, Inst Univ Europeen Mer, F-29280 Plouzane, France. |
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| Source | Marine Ecology Progress Series (0171-8630) (Inter-research), 2015-04-09 , Vol. 525 , P. 127-141 | ||||||||||||
| DOI | 10.3354/meps11169 | ||||||||||||
| WOS© Times Cited | 12 | ||||||||||||
| Keyword(s) | Echinoderm, Feeding ecology, Ophiocomina nigra, Ophiothrix fragilis, Trophic markers, Green algae | ||||||||||||
| Abstract | The trophic niches of 2 common co-occurring ophiuroids, Ophiocomina nigra and Ophiothrix fragilis (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea), in 2 contrasting coastal systems of Brittany (France) were investigated. We used a combination of fatty acid biomarkers derived from neutral lipids and stable isotopic compositions to explore the contributions of oceanic versus continental inputs to the ophiuroids' diet. We investigated 2 different systems with an inshore versus offshore comparison. We sampled potential food sources and surveyed organisms every 2 mo for 1 yr. Spatio-temporal variations in stable isotopes and fatty acid profiles of the ophiuroids were generally low compared to interspecific differences. Fatty acid markers showed that both ophiuroids relied on diatom inputs. However, a more delta N-15-enriched isotopic composition as well as a more balanced plant-versus animal-derived fatty acid composition in O. nigra suggest that a broader range of food sources are being used by this species irrespective of location or sampling time. The positive correlation between the 18:1n-9/18:1n-7 fatty acid ratio and delta N-15 values indicates a higher trophic position for O. nigra (suggesting an omnivorous feeding mode), whereas O. fragilis appears to be more herbivorous. Moreover, the low polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio associated with elevated bacterial fatty acid markers indicates that O. nigra preferentially consumes detritus, while O. fragilis relies more on fresh phytoplankton-derived material. Both stable isotope and fatty acid analyses suggest that terrestrial inputs do not contribute significantly to the diet of these ophiuroids. However, phytodetritus derived from decomposing green macroalgae contributed to the diet of O. nigra in the Bay of Douarnenez. | ||||||||||||
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