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Trophic linkages of primary producers and consumers in fringing mangroves of tropical lagoons

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Date Issued:
2001
Summary:
Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were analyzed to investigate the trophic linkages between primary producers and consumers in fringing mangrove ecosystems of The Bahamas and Biscayne Bay, Florida. The isotope ratios, in conjunction with stomach content analysis, were used to trace the flow of organic matter from the primary organic sources (mangroves, seagrass and macro-algae) to primary consumers and ultimately to the gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus). We found the mean delta^13C value of the primary consumers (-17.1%) to be closely related to the mean values of the macro-algal material (-16.7%) and the seagrass (-10.5%) with very little correlation to the carbon signature of mangroves (mean = -27.4%). Our results suggest the ultimate source of carbon for the primary and secondary consumers, located at our study sites, is algal and seagrass material, individually or possibly as a mixture, and that mangroves are not the sole source of carbon in these systems.
Title: Trophic linkages of primary producers and consumers in fringing mangroves of tropical lagoons.
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Name(s): Kieckbusch, David Keith
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Koch, Marguerite, Thesis advisor
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 2001
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, FL
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 58 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were analyzed to investigate the trophic linkages between primary producers and consumers in fringing mangrove ecosystems of The Bahamas and Biscayne Bay, Florida. The isotope ratios, in conjunction with stomach content analysis, were used to trace the flow of organic matter from the primary organic sources (mangroves, seagrass and macro-algae) to primary consumers and ultimately to the gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus). We found the mean delta^13C value of the primary consumers (-17.1%) to be closely related to the mean values of the macro-algal material (-16.7%) and the seagrass (-10.5%) with very little correlation to the carbon signature of mangroves (mean = -27.4%). Our results suggest the ultimate source of carbon for the primary and secondary consumers, located at our study sites, is algal and seagrass material, individually or possibly as a mixture, and that mangroves are not the sole source of carbon in these systems.
Identifier: 9780493098036 (isbn), 12754 (digitool), FADT12754 (IID), fau:9632 (fedora)
Degree granted: Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2001.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Subject(s): Mangrove ecology
Food chains (Ecology)
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12754
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.