Abstract
The natural stable isotope values of different primary sources have been used to trace the fate of organic carbon that enters in the marine food webs of Stagnone di Marsala (Italy). Water and sediment samples were collected monthly (March 1996 – February 1997) at 3 stations, characterized by different amounts of vegetal cover and analysed to determine total organic matter (OM), phytopigments, biopolymeric organic carbon (BPC) and stable carbon isotopic composition (δ13C), the latter measured also in main primary producers. Sedimentary OM accumulated in summer, while total suspended organic matter reached highest concentrations in May and December. The concentration of chlorophyll-a carbon in the sediments and suspended material (on average 227 ± 165 μg C g−1 and 14 ± 8.7 μg Cl−1 respectively) were highest in spring and autumn. Sedimentary BPC concentrations showed several peaks throughout the year, suspended BPC concentrations peaked in May and in summer. The δ13C from suspended particulate matter and sediments (on average −19.5 ± 2.7‰ and −13.0 ± 3.1‰ respectively) followed a gradient of enrichment moving towards the inner part of the Stagnone. The δ13C of primary sources ranged from −21.4‰ (phytoplankton) to −4.5‰ (seagrass detritus). The Dauby’s model (1989) was used in order to estimate the contribution of each primary carbon source to sedimentary and particulate reservoirs. In the northern basin, OM in sediments was mainly influenced by macroalgae carbon (46%), while that in the water column was influenced by phytoplankton (60%) and microphytobenthic (30%) carbon. In the southern basin, main sedimentary carbon sources were seagrasses and their detritus (61%, mainly Posidonia), while in the water column were phytoplankton and microphytobenthos (50% and 24% respectively). The role of some physical constraints (wind and tidal energy) in influencing isotopic composition of organic matter is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
CERC (1977) Shore protection manual, 3d edn, vol 1. US Army Corps of Engineers, Coastal Engineering Centre, Washington, DC
Dauby P (1989) The stable isotope ratios in benthic food webs of the Gulf of Calvi, Corsica. Cont Shelf Res 9: 181–195
Fabiano M, Pusceddu A (1998) Total and hydrolizable particulate organic matter (carbohydrates, proteins and lipids) at a coastal station in Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica). Polar Biol 19: 125–132
Fry B, Sherr EB (1984) δ13C measurements as indicators of carbon flow in marine and freshwater ecosystems. Contrib Mar Sci Univ Texas 27: 13–47
Griffiths H (1998) Stable isotopes: integration of biological, ecological and geochemical processes. Bio Sci Publ, Washington, pp 270
Hopkinson CS (1985) Shallow water benthic and pelagic metabolism: evidence of heterotrophy in the nearshore Georgia Bight. Mar Biol 87: 19–32
Jennings S, Renones O, Morales-Nin B, Polunin NVC, Moranta J, Coll J (1997) Spatial variation in the 15N and 13C stable isotope composition of plants, invertebrates and fishes on Mediterranean reefs: implications for the study of trophic pathways. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 146: 109–116
Lajtha K, Michener RH (1994) Stable isotopes in ecology and environmental sciences. Blackwell Science, Oxford
Lorenzen CL Jeffrey SW (1980) Determination of chlorophyll and phaeopigments spectrophotometric equations. Limnol Oceanogr 12: 343–346
MacIntyre HL, Geider RJ, Miller DC (1996) Microphytobenthos: the ecological role of the “secret” garden of unvegetated, shallow water habitats. I. Distribution, abundance and primary production. Estuaries 19: 186–201
Mann KH (1988) Production and use of detritus in various fresh-water, estuarine and coastal marine ecosystem. Limnol Oceanogr 33: 910–930
Mazzola A, Sarà G, Venezia F, Caruso M, Catalano D, Hauser S (1999) Origin and distribution of suspended organic matter as inferred from carbon isotope composition in a Mediterranean semi-enclosed marine system. Chem Ecol 16: 215–238
McMillan CP, Parker PL, Fry B (1980) 13C/12C ratios in seagrasses. Aquat Bot 9: 237–249
Michener R, Shell DM (1994) Stable isotope ratios as tracers in marine aquatic food webs. In: Lajtha K, Michener RH (eds) Stable isotopes in Ecology and environmental sciences. Blackwell Science, Oxford pp 138–157
Nival P, Charra R, Malara G, Boucher D (1972) La matière organique particulaire de la Méditerranée occidentale en mars 1970. Mission Mediprod du “Jean Charcot”. Ann Ist Oceanogr Paris 48: 141–156
Parker JG (1983) A comparison of methods used for the measurement of organic matter in sediments. Chem Ecol 1: 201–210
Pollard PC, Kogure K (1993) The role of epiphitic and epibenthic algal productivity in a tropical seagrass, Syringodium isoetifolium (Aschers.) Dandy, community. Aust J Mar Freshwater Res 44: 141–154
Pusceddu A, Sarà G, Armeni M, Fabiano M, Mazzola A (1999) Seasonal and spatial changes in sediment organic matter composition of a semi-enclosed marine system (W-Mediterranean Sea). Hydrobiologia 397: 59–70
Sarà G, Leonardi M, Mazzola A (1999) Spatial and temporal changes of suspended matter in relation to wind and vegetation in a Mediterranean shallow coastal environment. Chem Ecol 16: 151–173
Smaal AC, Haas AA (1997) Seston dynamics and food availability on mussel and cockle beds. Estuarine Coast Shelf Sci 45: 247–259
Sokal RR, Rohlf FJ (1981) Biometry. WH, Freeman and Co, New York
Strickland JDH, Parsons TR (1972) A practical handbook of sea water analysis. Bull Fish Res Board Can 167: 310
Tufano M (1991) Il rapporto isotopico 13C/12C (δ13C) nello studio dell’ecosistema bentonico costiero (Mar Ligure). PhD Diss, Univ Genoa
Underwood AJ (1997) Experiments in ecology: Their logic and interpretation using analysis of variance. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Valiela I (1984) Marine ecological processes. Springer Verlag, Berlin Heildelberg New York Tokyo
Wiencke C, Fisher G (1990) Growth and stable carbon isotope composition of cold-water macroalgae in relation to light and temperature. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 65: 283–292
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2001 Springer-Verlag Italia
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Mazzola, A., Sarà, G., Michener, R.H. (2001). The Use of Carbon Stable Isotopes to Investigate the Origin and Distribution of Suspended and Sedimentary Organic Matter in a Semi-enclosed Mediterranean Marine System. In: Faranda, F.M., Guglielmo, L., Spezie, G. (eds) Mediterranean Ecosystems. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2105-1_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2105-1_15
Publisher Name: Springer, Milano
Print ISBN: 978-88-470-2162-4
Online ISBN: 978-88-470-2105-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive