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Stable isotope study of sedimentary carbon utilization by Capitella spp.: effects of two carbon sources and geochemical conditions during their diagenesis

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Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of the type of sediment organic matter and geochemical conditions during diagenesis on the stable carbon isotope ratio δ13C of the deposit-feeding polychaete worms Capitella spp. Laboratory experiments showed δ13C values of-13.5 to-13.9%. for worms grown on fresh and aged kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera. Field experiments on worms in the Santa Barbara Channel, California (USA), in 1986 revealed more negative δ13C values (to-19%.) when oil and kelp were added to sediments. The more negative values suggest the incorporation of oil carbon into worm tissues, supporting previous indications of the importance of hydrocarbons in food webs near oil seeps.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Sciences Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California, Box 5507, 94550, Livermore, California, USA

    R. B. Spies

  2. Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland, Box 38, 20688, Solomons, Maryland, USA

    J. E. Bauer

  3. Kinnetic Laboratories, 3050 Paul Sweet Road, 95960, Santa Cruz, California, USA

    D. Hardin

Authors
  1. R. B. Spies
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  2. J. E. Bauer
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  3. D. Hardin
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Communicated by P. C. Schroeder, Pullman

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Spies, R.B., Bauer, J.E. & Hardin, D. Stable isotope study of sedimentary carbon utilization by Capitella spp.: effects of two carbon sources and geochemical conditions during their diagenesis. Mar. Biol. 101, 69–74 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393479

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393479

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