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Acid washing effect on elemental and isotopic composition of whole beach arthropods: Implications for food web studies using stable isotopes
- Source :
-
Acta Oecologica . Jul2008, Vol. 34 Issue 1, p89-96. 8p. - Publication Year :
- 2008
-
Abstract
- Abstract: Inorganic carbon removal through acidification is a common practice prior to isotopic analysis of macroinvertebrate samples. We have experimentally tested the effect of acidification on the elemental and isotopic composition of a range of beach arthropod species. Acidification resulted in a significant depletion of 7.7% and 1.2% on average for carbon and nitrogen, respectively, suggesting that acid washing affects body carbon compounds other than carbonates. With a few exceptions, δ13C and δ15N showed no changes following 1N HCl attack. Based on those exceptions, our results show that only those samples with a high CaCO3 content result in impoverished 13C as a consequence of acidification. Those suspected to be carbonate-free are not significantly affected. Concerning δ15N values, only high carbonate species were affected when treated with HCl. As a standard protocol, it is recommended to acidify only carbonate-rich samples prior to δ13C analyses. When possible, muscle tissue samples should be used instead of the entire organism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Subjects :
- *ARTHROPODA
*FOOD chains
*ISOTOPES
*ACIDIFICATION
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1146609X
- Volume :
- 34
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Acta Oecologica
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 33632232
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2008.04.002