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Spatial and temporal patterns of carbon flow in a temperate, large river food web

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Abstract

Using natural abundances of stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopes, we quantified spatial and temporal patterns of carbon flow through the main channel food web in the lowland section of New Zealand’s longest river, the Waikato River. The study was undertaken with the objective of determining whether the Waikato River conforms to contemporary theoretical concepts regarding carbon flow in large river food webs. Potential organic carbon sources and invertebrate and fish consumers were sampled from three different hydrogeomorphic zones on six occasions, representing a range of seasonal and flow conditions. In line with the predictions of the riverine productivity model and riverine ecosystem synthesis, autochthonous algae and biofilms were the most important basal carbon source contributing to consumer biomass. These were often supported by C3 aquatic macrophytes and allochthonous C3 riparian plants. The relative importance of organic carbon sources differed between zones and appeared to change depending on season, presumably in response to water temperature and flow, particularly in the unconstrained zone of the lower river. We also demonstrate that to draw robust conclusions, consideration must be given to quantifying the isotopic signatures of organisms lower in the food web, as these can change significantly between sampling times and hydrogeomorphic zones.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the funding provided by the University of Waikato Strategic Investment Fund and the Waikato Regional Council for the costs of sample collection and analysis, Warrick Powrie and Dudley Bell for driving boats and proving adept at collecting fish and invertebrates, Anjana Rajendram and Judy Hoult for help preparing and performing the stable isotope analyses, and the University of Waikato for providing a doctoral student scholarship. We thank three anonymous reviewers who provided comments that helped improve this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand

    Michael A. **ram, Kevin J. Collier, David P. Hamilton & Brendan J. Hicks

  2. Waikato Regional Council, PO Box 4010, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Kevin J. Collier & Bruno O. David

  3. Department of Conservation, Private Bag 3072, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Michael A. **ram

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  1. Michael A. **ram
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  2. Kevin J. Collier
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  3. David P. Hamilton
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  4. Brendan J. Hicks
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  5. Bruno O. David
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Correspondence to Michael A. **ram.

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Guest editors: H. Habersack, S. Muhar & H. Waidbacher / Impact of human activities on biodiversity of large rivers

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**ram, M.A., Collier, K.J., Hamilton, D.P. et al. Spatial and temporal patterns of carbon flow in a temperate, large river food web. Hydrobiologia 729, 107–131 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1408-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1408-2

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