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Determination of food web support and trophic position of the mummichog,Fundulus heteroclitus, in New Jersey smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), common reed (Phragmites australis), and restored salt marshes

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Abstract

The invasion ofPhragmites australis into tidal marshes formerly dominated bySpartina alterniflora has resulted in considerable interest in the consequences of this invasion for the ecological functions of marsh habitat. We examined the provision of trophic support for a resident marsh fish,Fundulus heteroclitus, in marshes dominated byP. australis, byS. alterniflora, and in restored marshes, using multiple stable isotope analysis. We first evaluated our ability to distinguish among potential primary producers using the multiple stable isotope approach. Within a tidal creek system we found significant marsh and elevation effects on microalgal isotope values, and sufficient variability and overlap in primary producer isotope values to create some difficulty in identifying unique end members. The food webs supportingF. heteroclitus production were examined using dual isotope plots. At both sites, the δ13C values ofF. heteroclitus were clustered over values for benthic microalgae (BMI) and approximately midway between δ13C values ofSpartina andPhragmites. Based on comparisons of fish and primary producer δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S values, and consideration ofF. heteroclitus feeding habits, we conclude that BMI were a significant component of the food web supportingF. heteroclitus in these brackish marshes, especially recently-hatched fish occupying pools on the marsh surface. A 2‰ difference in δ13C betweenFundulus occupying nearly adjacentSpartina andPhragmites marshes may be indicative of relatively less reliance on BMI and greater reliance onPhragmites production inPhragmites-dominated marshes, a conclusion consistent with the reduced BMI biomass found inPhragmites marshes. The mean δ13C value ofF. heteroclitus from restored marshes was intermediate between values of fish from naturally occurringSpartina marshes and areas invaded byPhragmites. We also examined the isotopic evidence for ontogenetic changes in the trophic position of larval and juvenileF. heteroclitus. We found significant positive relationships betweenF. heteroclitus δ15N values and total length, reflective of an increase in trophic position as fish grow.F. heteroclitus δ15N values indicate that these fish are feeding approximately two trophic levels above primary producers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research, 101 Pivers Island Road, 28516-9722, Beaufort, North Carolina

    C. A. Currin

  2. U.S. Coast Guard Academy, 27 Mohegan Avenue, 06320-8101, New London, Connecticut

    S. C. Wainright

  3. Marine Field Station, Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, 800 Great Bay Boulevard, 08087, Tuckerton, New Jersey

    K. W. Able

  4. New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium, Building 22, 07732, Fort Hancock, New Jersey

    M. P. Weinstein

  5. Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, 71 Dudley Road, 08901-8521, New Brunswick, New Jersey

    C. M. Fuller

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  1. C. A. Currin
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Correspondence to C. A. Currin.

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Currin, C.A., Wainright, S.C., Able, K.W. et al. Determination of food web support and trophic position of the mummichog,Fundulus heteroclitus, in New Jersey smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), common reed (Phragmites australis), and restored salt marshes. Estuaries 26, 495–510 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02823726

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