Siberian Federal University

Issue

Journal of Siberian Federal University. Biology. 2009 2 (4)

Authors

Gladyshev, Michail I.

Contact information

Gladyshev, Michail I. : Institute of Biophysics of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences Siberian Federal University; 50 Akademgorodok, Krasnoyarsk, 660036 Russia 79 Svobodny, Krasnoyarsk, 660041 Russia, e-mail:

Keywords

stable isotopes; aquatic ecosystems; trophic fractionation; trophic position

Abstract

Theory and practice of analyses of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen for food trophic studies in aquatic ecology are regarded basing on literature, published primarily in the last decade. Methods of measuring of the stable isotope ratios, δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N, are described including those of compound specific isotope analyses. Differences in isotopic signatures between terrestrial and aquatic organisms as well as between taxa and life forms and habitats are generalized. Trophic fractionation of ¹⁵N as the basis of quantitative estimation of trophic positions of organisms is described. Environmental factors affecting values of isotope ratios and limitations of the stable isotope method are discussed. Novel conceptions of aquatic ecology, developed on the basis of the stable isotope analyses are listed. As concluded, the stable isotopes are becoming a standard analytical tool in food web ecology. Careful use must be made of this tool, however.

Pages

381-402

Paper at repository of SibFU

https://elib.sfu-kras.ru/handle/2311/1625

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).