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Concentration-dependent Stable Isotope Analysis of Consumers in the Upper Reaches of a Freshwater-dominated Estuary: Apalachicola Bay, FL, USA

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Abstract

The goals of this study were to quantify organic matter source utilization by consumers in the freshwater-dominated region (East Bay) of a high river flow estuary and compare the results to consumers in marine-influenced sites of the same estuary to understand how organic matter utilization by consumers may be changing along the salinity gradient. We used the results from these evaluations to establish the baseline against which we isotopically determined trophic level for consumers in East Bay. Average isotope values for consumers sampled in East Bay ranged from −20.1‰ to −24.8‰ for carbon and from 8.9‰ to 14.3‰ for sulfur. These values were well-constrained by the four identified sources: plankton, benthic organic matter, macroalgae, and terrestrial detritus. Application of a concentration-corrected mixing model resulted in contributions of benthic production and detrital sources (averaged over the food web) to East Bay consumers of 41% and 33%, respectively, with the remainder made up of plankton and benthic macroalage. While benthic organic matter was an important organic matter source for consumers at both sites, we found that the influence of terrestrial detritus varied significantly throughout the bay. Terrestrial detritus contributed only 18% of average total organic matter in organisms inhabiting marine-influenced sites. Although terrestrial detritus did contribute to all consumers examined, most fish species in Apalachicola Bay reflect a greater reliance on autochthonous sources. Our results suggest that, while terrestrial detritus does appear to be a major contributor to commercially important shellfish species (most notably oysters and penaeid shrimp), it is not the major source fueling the diversity of secondary production in Apalachicola Bay. Thus, production in Apalachicola Bay is highly dependent on riverine influx in two ways: (1) economically important bivalves and crustaceans are being fueled by terrestrial organic matter supplied by river flooding and (2) secondary and above consumer fish species are supported by in situ production which, in turn, is reliant on nutrients supplied by the Apalachicola River. These findings are significant in light of decisions regarding water usage and river flow restrictions in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint drainage basin. The results of this study confirm that in situ estuarine organic matter is the dominant source supporting secondary production in this river-dominated estuary.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for sample collection and analysis was provided by the Northwest Florida Water Management District, the State of Florida via the Department of Environmental Protection, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Northern Gulf Institute (NGI), and the Florida State University graduate school though a University Research Fellowship to RMW. We wish to thank the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve and in particular L. Edmiston and C. Bailey for assistance with sample collection and advice. We are grateful for the comments of two anonymous reviewers whose suggestions greatly improved this manuscript.

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  1. Douglas Nowacek

    Present address: Nicholas School of the Environment and Pratt School of Engineering Duke University - Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd., Beaufort, NC, 28516, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oceanography, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4320, USA

    Rachel Marie Wilson, Jeffrey Chanton & Douglas Nowacek

  2. Northwest Florida Water Management District, 81 Water Management Dr, Havana, FL, 32333, USA

    F. Graham Lewis

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  1. Rachel Marie Wilson
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Correspondence to Rachel Marie Wilson.

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Wilson, R.M., Chanton, J., Lewis, F.G. et al. Concentration-dependent Stable Isotope Analysis of Consumers in the Upper Reaches of a Freshwater-dominated Estuary: Apalachicola Bay, FL, USA. Estuaries and Coasts 33, 1406–1419 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-010-9304-3

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