Stable isotope analysis of energy sources for larvae of eight fish species from the Amazon floodplain

– Aquatic macrophytes form the most productive habitat of the Amazon floodplain and account for more than 60% of the net primary production of the ecosystem. Aquatic grasses are the dominant macrophytes and the main feeding ground of Amazonian larval fish. The present study used stable isotopes of n...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecology of freshwater fish 2002-03, Vol.11 (1), p.56-63
Main Authors: Leite, R. G., Araújo-Lima, C. A. R. M., Victoria, R. L., Martinelli, L. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amazon
fish
food web
Freshwater
stable isotopes
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Summary:– Aquatic macrophytes form the most productive habitat of the Amazon floodplain and account for more than 60% of the net primary production of the ecosystem. Aquatic grasses are the dominant macrophytes and the main feeding ground of Amazonian larval fish. The present study used stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon to measure the contribution of aquatic grasses to the production of eight larval fish, and describes the structure of the trophic chain. The carnivore larvae were at the third trophic level, and the detritivores were at the second and third trophic levels. The contribution of aquatic grasses to larval fish production was variable. It could reach a mean value of 25% for three species, but its contribution probably did not exceed 12% in the other five species. Resumen 1. Las macrofitas acuáticas representan el hábitat más productivo de la foresta inundada del Amazonas, equivalente a más del 60% de la producción primaria en la red del ecosistema. Hierbas acuáticas son las macrófitas dominates y la principal fuente de alimentación para las larvas de peces de la Amazonia. 2. Nuestro estudio utiliza isótopos estables de nitrógeno y carbono para medir la contribución de las gramíneas acuáticas en el desarollo larvario de ocho especies de peces y describe la estructura de la cadena trófica. 3. Las larvas carnivoras estaban en el tercer nível trófico, mientras que las detritívoras se localizaran en el segundo y tercer nível trófico. 4. La contribución de las gramíneas acuáticas en la producción larvario fué variable. En tres especies la media alcanzó valores del 25%, pero su contribución, probablemente, no excede el 12% en las otras cinco especies.
ISSN:0906-6691
1600-0633
DOI:10.1034/j.1600-0633.2002.110106.x