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Use of δ 13 C, δ 15 N, and carbon to nitrogen ratios to evaluate the impact of sewage‐derived particulate organic matter on the benthic communities of the Southern California Bight
Author(s) -
RamírezÁlvarez Nancy,
MacíasZamora José Vinicio,
Burke Roger A.,
RodríguezVillanueva Lúz Verónica
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1897/06-651r.1
Subject(s) - benthic zone , organic matter , sediment , δ15n , particulates , environmental science , environmental chemistry , δ13c , stable isotope ratio , isotopes of nitrogen , sewage , total organic carbon , invertebrate , nitrogen , oceanography , ecology , chemistry , geology , biology , environmental engineering , paleontology , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
Abstract We measured stable isotope ratios (δ 13 Cand δ 15 N) of particulate organic matter (POM) sources and benthic organic matter compartments as well as sediment C to N ratios from the coastal area of the southern end of the Southern California Bight (SCB). We used the isotopic values to evaluate the relative importance of the major POM sources to the sediment and two benthic macroinvertebrates. Application of a simple model to sediment δ 13 C values suggested that sewage‐derived POM (SDPOM) supplies an average of 48% of the organic C to study area sediments. Application of a similar model to Spiophanes duplex δ 13 C values suggested that SDPOM from wastewater treatment plants discharging into the SCB could supply up to 57% of the C assimilated by this important benthic macroinvertebrate in areas as far away as 26 km from SDPOM inputs. The stable isotope data for Amphiodia urtica were more difficult to interpret because of the complex feeding habits of this organism.