Abstract
Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were used to elucidate primary carbon sources and trophic relationships of the fish and shrimp community in the Klong Ngao mangrove ecosystem, southern Thailand. There were no significant differences in isotopic compositions of biota between mangrove and offshore sites (Welch–Aspin test). The δ15N values of eight fish species and two shrimp species at both sites were also not significantly different by the test, meaning that at both sites they feed on the same diets due to the discharge of large quantities of mangrove sediments. The δ15N isotopic enrichment of consumers suggested that there are four trophic levels in the Klong Ngao food web, with at least two fish species capable of switching feeding strategies and thus altering their apparent trophic positions. Phytoplankton culture experiments indicated that mangrove-derived sediments could play an important role in stimulating phytoplankton growth for low turbidity offshore areas, thus providing an alternate food source. The isotopic associations among sources and consumers indicated that mangroves were the major carbon source supporting aquatic food webs in the Klong Ngao ecosystem.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agata AD, Aryuthaka C, Chalermpongse A et al (1991) Fauna and fisheries studies. In: Final Report of the “Integrated Multidisciplinary Survey and Research Programme of the Raong Mangrove Ecosystem”. UNDP/UNESCO Regional Research and its Application to the Management of the Mangroves of Asia and the Pacific, RAS/86/120. In: Co-operation with the National Mangrove Committee of the National Research Council of Thailand, Bangkok, pp 82–158
Aksornkoae S (1993) Ecology and management of mangroves. IUCN, Bangkok, p 176
Bouillon S, Raman AV, Dauby P, Dehairs F (2002) Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of subtidal benthic inverterbrates in an estuarine mangrove ecosystem (Andhra Pradesh, India). Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 54:901–913
Bunn SE, Loneragan NR, Kempster MA (1995) Effect of acid washing samples on stable isotope ratios of C and N in penaeid shrimps and seagrass: implications for food web studies using multiple stable isotopes. Limnol Oceanogr 40:622–625
Chong VC, Sasekumar A (1981) Food and feeding habits of the white prawn Penaeus merguensis. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 5:185–191
Chong VC, Low CB, Ichikawa T (2001) Contribution of mangrove detritus to juvenile prawn nutrition: a dual stable isotope study in Malaysian mangrove forest. Mar Biol 138:77–86
Chunkao K, Niyom W, Tantanawarit S (1985) Sediment and water flow affected to the estuarine zone and its productivity. In: Proceeding of the international seminar on environmental factors in agricultural production. Bangkok, pp 209–216
Fry B (1988) Food web structure on Georges Bank from stable C, N, and S isotopic compositions. Limnol Oceanogr 33:1182–1190
Fry B, Sherr EB (1984) δ13C measurements as indicators of carbon flow in marine and freshwater ecosystems. Contrib Mar Sci 27:13–47
Gearing JN (1991) The study of diet and trophic relationships through natural abundance 13C. In: Colemang DC, Fry B (eds) Carbon isotope techniques. Academic Press, London, pp 201–218
Jennings S, Renones O, Morales-Nin B, Polunin NVC, Moranta J, Coll J (1997) Spatial variation in the 15N and 13C stable isotope composition of plants, invertebrates and fishes on Mediterranean reefs: implications for the study of trophic pathways. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 146:109–116
Leh MU, Sasekumar A (1984) Feeding ecology of prawns in shallow water adjoining mangrove shores. In: Soepadmo E, Raol AN, Macintosh DJ (eds) Proceedings of the Asian symposium on mangrove environmental research and management. University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, pp 331–353
Loneragan NR, Bunn SE, Kellaway DM (1997) Are mangroves and seagrasses sources of organic carbon for penaeid prawns in a tropical Australian estuary? A multiple stable-isotope study. Mar Biol 130:289–300
Marguillier S, Van der Velde G, Dehairs F, Hemminga MA, Rajagopal S (1997) Trophic relationships in an interlinked mangrove-seagrass ecosystem as traced by δ13C and δ15N. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 151:115–121
Minagawa M, Wada E (1984) Stepwise enrichment of 15N along food chains: further evidence and the relationship between δ15N and animal age. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 48:1135–1140
Nagelkerken I, Kleijnen S, Klop T, van den Brand RACJ, Cocheret de la Moriniere E, van der Velde G (2001) Dependence of Caribbean reef fishes on mangroves and seagrass as nursery habitats: a comparison of fish faunas between bays with and without mangrove/seagrass beds. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 214:225–235
Newell RIE, Marshall N, Sasekumar A, Chong VC (1995) Relative importance of benthic microalgae, phytoplankton and mangroves as sources of nutrition for penaeid prawns and other coastal invertebrates from Malaysia. Mar Biol 123:595–606
O’Brien CJ (1994) Ontogenetic changes in the diets of juvenile brown tiger prawns. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 112:195–200
Peterson BJ, Fry B (1987) Stable isotopes in ecosystem studies. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 18:293–320
Primavera JH (1996) Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of penaeid juveniles and primary producers in riverine mangrove in Guimaras, Philippines. Bull Mar Sci 58:675–683
Robertson AI (1988) Abundance, diets and predators of juvenile Banana prawns Penaeus merguensis, in a tropical mangrove estuary. Aust J Mar Freshw Res 39:467–478
Robertson AI, Blaber SJM (1992) Plankton, epibenthos and fish communities. In: Robertson AI, Alongi DM (eds) Tropical mangrove ecosystems. Geophysical Union, Washington DC, pp 173–224
Rodelli MR, Gearing JH, Gearing FF, Marshall N, Sasekumar A (1984) Stable isotope ratios as a tracer of mangrove carbon in Malaysian ecosystems. Oecologia 61:326–333
Stoner AW, Zimmerman RJ (1988) Food pathways associated with penaeid shrimps in a mangrove-fringed estuary. Fish Bull 86:543–555
Thimdee W, Deein G, Sangrungruang C, Matsunaga K (2001) Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes of mangrove crabs and their food sources in a mangrove-fringed estuary in Thailand. Benthos Res 56:73–80
Thimdee W, Deein G, Sangrungruang C, Nishioka J, Matsunaga K (2003) Sources and fate of organic matter in Khung Krabaen Bay (Thailand) as traced by δ13C and C/N atomic ratios. Wetlands 23:729–738
Thimdee W, Deein G, Sangrungruang C, Matsunaga K (2004) Analysis of primary food sources and trophic relationships of aquatic animals in a mangrove-fringed estuary, Khung Krabaen Bay (Thailand) using dual stable isotope techniques. Wetlands Ecol Manage 12:135–144
UNDP/UNESCO (1991) The integrated multidisciplinary survey and research program of the Ranong mangrove ecosystem. United Nations Development Program. Regional Mangrove Project RAS/86/120
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the Mangrove Forest Research Center (MFRC), Ranong province, for the use of field facilities. We also thank Dr. Anthony S. Ilano for his useful comments.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Thimdee, W., Deein, G., Nakayama, N. et al. δ13C and δ15N indicators of fish and shrimp community diet and trophic structure in a mangrove ecosystem in Thailand. Wetlands Ecol Manage 16, 463–470 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-008-9083-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-008-9083-9