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Trophic Consistency of Benthic Invertebrates Among Diversified Vegetational Habitats in a Temperate Coastal Wetland of Korea as Determined by Stable Isotopes

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Abstract

The relative importance of different organic matter sources to macrobenthic consumers was investigated at two vegetational habitats (Phragmites australis and Suaeda japonica) and at a bare intertidal flat in Suncheon Bay in May and August 2010, using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope tracers. The δ13C of consumers was much narrower in range than that of potential food sources (microphytobenthos, marsh plants, and riverine and marine particulate organic matter), and values were similar between sites. However, cluster analysis based on the consumer’s isotope values showed that they are divided according to functional groups rather than habitat type and taxonomical group, suggesting that the exploitation of different dietary sources depends on feeding strategy. Except for two suspension feeders and nonselective deposit feeders at the Phragmites bed, most consumers had similar δ13C to those of microphytobenthos. An isotopic mixing model calculation revealed the consistent importance of microphytobenthos to the nutrition of benthic invertebrates among wetland habitats in different seasons. In contrast, very little contribution of marsh plant-derived organic matter to consumer nutrition was detected at all sites. Furthermore, our results suggest that the summer monsoon event does not lead to a seasonal shift in dietary sources of consumers in this coastal wetland system.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by “Long-term change of structure and function in marine ecosystems of Korea” funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Korea. An earlier draft of this manuscript was substantially improved thanks to the comments made by an anonymous reviewer and associate editor, Carolyn A. Currin.

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  1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, 500-712, Republic of Korea

    Hyun Je Park, Jung Hyun Kwak & Chang-Keun Kang

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  1. Hyun Je Park
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Correspondence to Chang-Keun Kang.

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Communicated by Carolyn A. Currin

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Park, H.J., Kwak, J.H. & Kang, CK. Trophic Consistency of Benthic Invertebrates Among Diversified Vegetational Habitats in a Temperate Coastal Wetland of Korea as Determined by Stable Isotopes. Estuaries and Coasts 38, 599–611 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-014-9834-1

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