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Isotopic signatures (13C/12C; 15N/14N) of blue penguin burrow soil invertebrates: carbon sources and trophic relationships.
- Source :
-
New Zealand Journal of Zoology . Dec2010, Vol. 37 Issue 4, p313-321. 9p. 1 Chart, 1 Graph. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Seabird burrows provide a soil environment for processing discards such as feathers and guano, hence constituting a primary interface between the sea and the land. This study involved collection and culturing of soil invertebrates from three blue penguin (Eudyptula minor) burrows, and examined their 13C/12C and 15N/14N isotopic composition in relation to potential burrow resources (terrestrial plant litter, burrow soil, guano, blue penguin feathers). Two taxa (cerylonid beetles and small tineid moth larvae) had a depleted 13C/12C indicative of a level of dependence on C from terrestrial soil. Tineid moth larvae (Monopis crocicapitella and (or) M. ethelella) substantially increased their 13C/12C enrichment during development, implying increasing dependence on marine C. Remaining taxa, both decomposers and predators, had 13C/12C intermediate between guano and feathers. Larval and emergent fleas had the most enriched 13C/12C, indicative of a greater dependence on feather C and the likelihood of co-processing with guano. Pseudoscorpions and histerid beetles had overlapping isotopic enrichments implying competition for prey, but were spatially separated in burrow soil. With their highly enriched 15N/14N and marine 13C/12C, larvae and protonymphs of the histiostomatid mite Myianoetus antipodus stood alone. Blue penguin burrows therefore support a diverse invertebrate fauna that incorporates terrestrial soil as well as varying proportions of the various blue penguin discards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *ANIMAL burrowing
*BURROWING animals
*SEA birds
*GUANO
*SOIL animals
*FOOD chains
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 03014223
- Volume :
- 37
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- New Zealand Journal of Zoology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 56620701
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/03014223.2010.519036