Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-21T05:25:06.191Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Comparison of stable carbon and nitrogen isotope signatures of the polychaete Nereis diversicolor from different estuarine sites

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2000

Mathilde Nithart
Mathilde Nithart
Affiliation:
School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, U.K. Centre d'Océanologie de Marseille, Rue de la Batterie des Lions, 13007 Marseille, France
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The natural abundance of stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios for Nereis diversicolor (Annelida: Polychaeta) from 16 sites around the UK are analysed. Differences in the isotopic compositions reflect variations either in the dietary origin or in the estuary characteristics. In contrast to Stiffkey Nereis, the ones from the other estuaries are characterized by broad δ13C (−13.9 to −22.6‰) and δ15N (+11.3 to +17.9‰) ranges. An hypothesis based on sediment denitrification is discussed to explain the anomalously heavy δ15N compositions of Nereis from the Humber Estuary (+16.9 to +18.1‰) and Breydon Water (+17.7±0.5‰).

Type
Brief Report
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 80 , Issue 4 , August 2000 , pp. 763 - 765
Copyright
2000 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)