Article (Scientific journals)
Dominant amphipods of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows display considerable trophic diversity
Michel, Loïc; Dauby, Patrick; Gobert, Sylvie et al.
2015In Marine Ecology, 36 (4), p. 969-981
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Keywords :
Seagrass; Mesograzers; Epiphytes; Stable isotopes; Fatty acids; SIAR
Abstract :
[en] Gut content examination and trophic markers (fatty acids, stables isotopes of C and N) were combined to delineate the diet of the dominant species of amphipods from Mediterranean Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows and to highlight trophic diversity among this community. Our results indicate that, although all dominant species heavily relied on macroalgal epiphytes, considerable interspecific dietary differences existed. Carbon stable isotope ratios notably showed that some of the amphipod species favored grazing on epiphytes from leaves or litter fragments (Apherusa chiereghinii, Aora spinicornis, Gammarus aequicauda), while others like Dexamine spiniventris preferred epiphytes from rhizomes. The remaining amphipods (Caprella acanthifera, Ampithoe helleri and Gammarella fucicola) readily consumed both groups. In addition, SIAR modeling suggested that most species had a mixed diet, and relied on several food items. Fatty acid analysis and gut contents revealed that contribution of microepiphytic diatoms and of benthic and suspended particulate organic matter to the diet of amphipods were anecdotal. None of the examined species seemed to graze on their seagrass host (low 18:2(n-6) and 18:3(n-3) fatty acids contents), but G. aequicauda partly relied on seagrass leaf detritus, as demonstrated by the lesser 13C-depletion of their tissues. Overall, our findings suggest that amphipods, because of their importance in transfers of organic matter from primary producers and detritus to higher rank consumers, are key-items in P. oceanica associated food webs.
Research center :
MARE - Centre Interfacultaire de Recherches en Océanologie - ULiège
Disciplines :
Aquatic sciences & oceanology
Zoology
Environmental sciences & ecology
Author, co-author :
Michel, Loïc  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanologie
Dauby, Patrick ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Systématique et diversité animale
Gobert, Sylvie  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanologie
Graeve, Martin;  Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Maritime Research, Bremerhaven, Germany > Marine Chemistry division
Nyssen, Fabienne ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie & Evolution > Systématique et Diversité animale
Thelen, Nicolas  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la vie > GIGA-R : Biologie cellulaire
Lepoint, Gilles  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanologie
Language :
English
Title :
Dominant amphipods of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows display considerable trophic diversity
Publication date :
December 2015
Journal title :
Marine Ecology
ISSN :
0173-9565
eISSN :
1439-0485
Publisher :
Blackwell Publishing
Volume :
36
Issue :
4
Pages :
969-981
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE]
FRIA - Fonds pour la Formation à la Recherche dans l'Industrie et dans l'Agriculture [BE]
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