Poster (Scientific congresses and symposiums)
Trophic tracers reveal considerable diversity among diets of dominant amphipods from Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows
Michel, Loïc; Dauby, Patrick; Gobert, Sylvie et al.
20128th International Conference on Applications of Stable Isotope Techniques to Ecological Studies (IsoEcol)
 

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Keywords :
amphipod; posidonia; stable isotopes
Abstract :
[en] Mediterranean Posidonia oceanica meadows shelter a high biomass and an important biodiversity of amphipod crustaceans. In other temperate meadows, the amphipods play an important part in the functioning of the ecosystem, notably in organic matter transfers from producers to higher level consumers. However, the situation in Posidonia oceanica meadows remains unclear, and little is known about the trophic ecology of amphipods, which are generally regarded as generalist herbivores/detritivores despite the lack of precise studies. Here, we combined gut content examination and trophic markers (fatty acids, stables isotopes of C and N) to delineate the diet of the dominant species of amphipods from Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows and to highlight trophic diversity among this community. Our results indicate that contribution of microepiphytic diatoms and of benthic and suspended particulate organic matter to the diet of amphipods were anecdotal. On the other hand, all dominant species heavily relied on macroalgal epiphytes, suggesting a certain extent of overlapping in the diets of the dominant species. Considerable interspecific differences nonetheless existed, notably concerning grazing preferences towards epiphytes from leaves or litter fragments vs. epiphytes from rhizomes. In addition, the use of the SIAR isotopic mixing model showed that most species had a mixed diet, and relied on several food items. None of the examined species seemed to graze on their seagrass host, but Gammarus aequicauda partly relied on seagrass leaf detritus. Overall, our findings demonstrate that amphipods have the potential to be key-items in trophic and functional interactions occurring among Mediterranean Posidonia oceanica meadows.
Research center :
MARE - Centre Interfacultaire de Recherches en Océanologie - ULiège
Disciplines :
Aquatic sciences & oceanology
Environmental sciences & ecology
Author, co-author :
Michel, Loïc  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Systématique et diversité animale
Dauby, Patrick ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Systématique et diversité animale
Gobert, Sylvie  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanologie
Graeve, Martin;  Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research - AWI > Biosciences > Ecological Chemistry
Thelen, Nicolas  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la vie > Biologie cellulaire
Lepoint, Gilles  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanologie
Language :
English
Title :
Trophic tracers reveal considerable diversity among diets of dominant amphipods from Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows
Publication date :
20 August 2012
Number of pages :
A0
Event name :
8th International Conference on Applications of Stable Isotope Techniques to Ecological Studies (IsoEcol)
Event organizer :
European Institute for Marine Studies (IUEM) & Ifremer Brest
Event place :
Brest, France
Event date :
20 - 24/08/2012
Audience :
International
Funders :
F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE]
FRIA - Fonds pour la Formation à la Recherche dans l'Industrie et dans l'Agriculture [BE]
Available on ORBi :
since 03 September 2012

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