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REGULAR PAPERS Unusual stable isotope fractionation patterns observed for fish host—parasite trophic relationships
Author(s) -
Pinnegar J. K.,
Campbell N.,
Polunin N. V. C.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2001.tb02355.x
Subject(s) - biology , trophic level , parasite hosting , cestoda , host (biology) , zoology , isopoda , ecology , helminths , crustacean , world wide web , computer science
Trophic relationships between four taxa of fish parasite (Cestoda, Nematoda, Isopoda, Copepoda) and their hosts ( Gasterosteus aculeatus, Merlangius merlangus, Boops boops, Platichthys flesus ) were investigated using stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen. δ 15 N differences between parasite and host were unlike those conventionally observed among consumers and their diets. In no case were parasites enriched in 15N with respect to the host organism; endoparasites were significantly and consistently depleted. In no case were parasites enriched in 15N with respect to the host organism; endoparasites were significantly and consistently depleted.