A stable isotope approach to the eastern Weddell Sea trophic web: focus on benthic amphipods

Abstract.

Stable isotope (¹³C/¹²C and ¹⁵N/¹⁴N) analyses were performed on 90 species belonging to different benthic communities sampled in the eastern Weddell Sea. The study focused on eight amphipod species whose isotopic composition was compared to their previously described respective gut contents. Amphipod stable isotope ratios correspond fairly accurately to the trophic classification based on gut contents and attest to their wide spectrum of feeding types. Since the fundamental difference between the isotope and the gut content approaches to diet studies is the time scale each method addresses, this coincidence indicates that there would be no significant changes in feeding strategies over time. Three levels of the food web are covered by the eight species and, instead of belonging strictly to one trophic category, amphipods display a continuum of values from the suspension-feeder to scavengers.