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Effect of temperature on an alga‐grazer trophic transfer: A dual stable isotope ( 13 C, 15 N) labeling experiment
Author(s) -
Legrand Erwann,
Martin Sophie,
Leroux Cédric,
Riera Pascal
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
marine ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.668
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1439-0485
pISSN - 0173-9565
DOI - 10.1111/maec.12495
Subject(s) - trophic level , isotopes of nitrogen , nitrogen , sea urchin , stable isotope ratio , dry weight , respiration , isotopes of carbon , biology , isotope , environmental chemistry , ecology , zoology , chemistry , botany , total organic carbon , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
In this study, we examined the impact of temperature on the carbon and nitrogen trophic transfers from a macroalga to a macro‐grazer by the use of dual 13 C‐ and 15 N‐labeling. Using an experimental approach in mesocosms, individuals of the urchin Psammechinus miliaris were maintained for 1 month at 17°C (mean summer temperature in the Bay of Brest) and at 20°C (maximum summer temperature) and fed with 13 C‐ and 15 N‐labeled Solieria chordalis. The results showed that the urchins’ 13 C uptake was 0.30 µg 13 C g dry weight (DW) −1 at 17°C and 0.14 µg 13 C g DW −1 at 20°C at the end of the experiment. The lower uptake at the higher temperature may be attributed to a decrease in metabolic activity at 20°C, involving lower feeding and/or respiration rates. Conversely, no significant effect of temperature was detected on 15 N uptake. At the end of the experiment, the urchins’ 15 N uptake was 0.04 µg 15 N g DW −1 at 17°C and 0.03 µg 15 N g DW −1 at 20°C. This suggests that temperature may affect carbon and nitrogen trophic fluxes differently. The use of dual isotope labeling offers interesting prospects and needs to be further extended in order to better understand trophic interactions in marine communities and the consequences of current environmental changes, such as global warming.