Spatial variation of the d13 C signature of Ruppia megacarpa (Mason) in coastal lagoons of south-western Australia and its implication for isotopic studies

Document Type

Journal Article

Publisher

Elsevier

Faculty

Faculty of Computing, Health and Science

School

School of Natural Sciences

RAS ID

894

Comments

Boyce, M. C., Lavery, P. S., Weatherill, P. J., & Horwitz, P. (2001). Spatial variation of the d13 C signature of Ruppia megacarpa (Mason) in coastal lagoons of south-western Australia and its implication for isotopic studies. Aquatic Botany , 71(2), 83 -92. Available here".

Abstract

Ruppia megacarpa was collected from three coastal lagoons in southwestern Australia: Nornalup Inlet, Peel Inlet and Oyster Harbour. In each case, plants were sampled from four sites and δ 13C values were determined for leaves, rhizomes and roots of replicate plants to assess the variability between lagoons, between sites in lagoons and between plant parts at sites. The δ 13C values of tissue ranged from −6.6 to −17.8‰ with a mean of −11.15‰. In Nornalup Inlet, there were significant differences in the δ 13C values of different plant parts, but there was also a significant interaction between plant part and site. In Peel Inlet significant differences were found between plant parts and between sites. Oyster Harbour displayed no significant differences in δ 13C values between any of these factors. The δ 13C values of R. megacarpa were highly variable, with only one other marine angiosperm having a higher recorded range in values. Significant differences in δ 13C values occurred between sites within lagoons and between plant parts, and the pattern of spatial variability was different in each lagoon. The spatial differences within lagoons appear to relate to differences in water quality resulting from proximity to river and ocean inputs. Differences between plant parts may be related to the storage of biochemical products with distinct isotope ratios. Trophic studies, therefore, need to be conducted in a way that explicitly identifies the spatial scales that capture the variability in δ 13C values relevant to the aims of the study.

DOI

10.1016/S0304-3770(01)00177-2

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.1016/S0304-3770(01)00177-2