Trophic linkages between periphyton and grazing macroinvertebrates in rivers with different levels of catchment development

Stable isotope signatures (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) were used to compare trophic linkages between epilithic periphyton and three families of macroinvertebrates (Baetidae, Leptophlebiidae and Gripopterygidae) in riffles of two rivers with developed catchments (including agriculture, urbanization, impoundment a...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hydrobiologia 2009-06, Vol.625 (1), p.135-150
Main Authors: Chessman, Bruce C, Westhorpe, Douglas P, Mitrovic, Simon M, Hardwick, Lorraine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Baetidae
Biological and medical sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Catchments
Ecology
Fresh water ecosystems
Freshwater
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Gripopterygidae
Invertebrates
Isotopes
Leptophlebiidae
Life Sciences
Macroinvertebrates
Primary Research Paper
Riffles
Riparian vegetation
Rivers
Stable isotopes
Studies
Synecology
Urbanization
Zoology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Stable isotope signatures (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) were used to compare trophic linkages between epilithic periphyton and three families of macroinvertebrates (Baetidae, Leptophlebiidae and Gripopterygidae) in riffles of two rivers with developed catchments (including agriculture, urbanization, impoundment and flow regulation) and two with undeveloped catchments (native forest with no major impoundments) in the Murrumbidgee River system, New South Wales, Australia. Periphyton had much higher average δ¹⁵N values and lower average C:N ratios in the developed rivers than in the undeveloped rivers, probably because of the combined effects of nutrient enrichment, upstream impoundment and alteration of riparian vegetation. The invertebrates were generally slightly depleted in ¹³C and ¹⁵N relative to expected values if they were assimilating whole periphyton alone, which suggests that they were assimilating periphyton components selectively or also consuming other foods. The match in isotope signatures between periphyton and invertebrates was only slightly weaker in the developed than in the undeveloped rivers, suggesting that development did not greatly disrupt trophic linkages between periphyton and these invertebrates.
ISSN:0018-8158
1573-5117
DOI:10.1007/s10750-009-9702-3