Abstract
The isotopic composition of carbon and nitrogen of sources and consumers and the mixing model stable isotope analysis in R (SIAR) were used to understand the trophic structure to identify the main carbon sources in the food web of a highly humid riverine mangrove system on the Pacific coast of Colombia. The δ13C values of carbon sources varied from − 30.6 to − 26.9‰. Consumers were separated into invertebrates (with δ13C mean values from − 24.8 ± 0.3‰ to − 15.7 ± 0.7‰) and fish (with δ13C mean values from − 21.2 ± 1.3‰ to − 17.2 ± 0.9‰). Benthic mobile invertebrates generally had depleted δ13C values related to different trophic pathways to those of filter feeders and fish (with more enriched δ13C values). In agreement with similar studies in estuarine macro-tidal areas (e.g., Brazil and Panamanian Pacific), the large range in δ13C values for consumers may indicate that different carbon sources are important for the analyzed food web. In general, fish exhibited greater nitrogen values than invertebrates, indicating higher trophic levels. Among all consumers, with some exceptions, δ15N values correctly reflected the trophic levels, as species from lower trophic levels had lower δ15N than species from higher trophic levels. The trophic length of the food web was estimated from producers to higher consumers based on δ15N values. Taking into account a nitrogen trophic fractionation value of 3.4‰, the studied system exhibited a food web with four trophic levels. Based on the distribution of consumer trophic guilds in the δ13C-δ15N plane and the mixing model results, we recognized that at least two main pathways are present in the system to support the community.
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Acknowledgements
Special thanks to the Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, La Paz, Baja California Sur, México, for supporting DMC during the internship. Part of the preparation of DMC was through the scholarship for international mobility of researchers, 613-2013, COLCIENCIAS, and some funds received from the postgraduate program in Science-Biology from Universidad del Valle. To the members of the research group Ecología de estuarios y manglares from Universidad del Valle, for support during the collection, process, and identification of samples. To Juan Carlos Mejía for map** the study area. To Wilmar Torres López of Universidad del Valle for his help in the statistical analysis. Thanks to Alba Marina Cóbo Viveros for the revision of this manuscript. Special thanks to Peter Hogarth for language revision and valuable comments. To Portocarrero family for accommodation and hospitality during fieldwork and for sharing their traditional knowledge about mangroves, forests, and the wonderful sea of the Pacific coast of Colombia. To the anonymous revisor and editor of this journal for their contributions and recommendations, which enriched this paper. Lastly, to Fernando Arenas for the translation and for his unconditional support.
Funding
This study was conducted under the project “Análisis de la dinámica trófica en dos manglares del Pacífico colombiano, mediante el uso integrado de isótopos estables y modelación ecosistémica: Importancia para la producción pesquera del sistema” with code 110665944115, accomplished by Universidad del Valle and co-funded by Departamento Administrativo de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (COLCIENCIAS) through the call number 659 of 2014.
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This study was performed under the collection permit for wild species specimens of biological diversity for the purpose of non-commercial scientific research, granted by the Autoridad Nacional de Licencias Ambientales (ANLA) through Resolution 1070 of August 28, 2015 to Universidad del Valle, supported by the concept of the Interior Ministry of not needing certification or prior consultation (EXTIMI 2015-0021691) and under the export permit (ANLA No. 00961).
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Medina Contreras, D., Cantera Kintz, J., Sánchez González, A. et al. Food Web Structure and Trophic Relations in a Riverine Mangrove System of the Tropical Eastern Pacific, Central Coast of Colombia. Estuaries and Coasts 41, 1511–1521 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-017-0350-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-017-0350-y