Carbon isotope fractionation in the mangrove Avicennia marina has implications for food web and blue carbon research

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dc.contributor.authorKelleway, JJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMazumder, Den_AU
dc.contributor.authorBaldock, JAen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSaintilan, Nen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2021-08-24T01:40:29Zen_AU
dc.date.available2021-08-24T01:40:29Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2018-05-31en_AU
dc.description.abstractThe ratio of stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) is commonly used to track the flow of energy among individuals and ecosystems, including in mangrove forests. Effective use of this technique requires understanding of the spatial variability in δ13C among primary producer(s) as well as quantification of the isotopic fractionations that occur as C moves within and among ecosystem components. In this experiment, we assessed δ13C variation in the cosmopolitan mangrove Avicennia marina across four sites of varying physico-chemical conditions across two estuaries. We also compared the isotopic values of five distinct tissue types (leaves, woody stems, cable roots, pneumatophores and fine roots) in individual plants. We found a significant site effect (F3, 36 = 15.78; P < 0.001) with mean leaf δ13C values 2.0‰ more depleted at the lowest salinity site compared to the other locations. There was a larger within-plant fractionation effect, however, with leaf samples (mean ± SE = −29.1 ± 0.2) more depleted in 13C than stem samples (−27.1 ± 0.1), while cable root (−25. 8 ± 0.1), pneumatophores (−25.7 ± 0.1) and fine roots (−26.0 ± 0.2) were more enriched in 13C relative to both aboveground tissue types (F4, 36 = 223.45; P < 0.001). The within-plant δ13C fractionation we report for A. marina is greater than that reported in most other ecosystems. This has implications for studies of estuarine carbon cycling. The consistent and large size of the fractionation from leaf to woody stem (∼2.0‰) and mostly consistent fractionation from leaf to root tissues (>3.0‰) means that it may now be possible to partition the individual contributions of various mangrove tissues to estuarine food webs. Similarly, the contributions of mangrove leaves, woody debris and belowground sources to blue carbon stocks might also be quantified. Above all, however, our results emphasize the importance of considering appropriate mangrove tissue types when using δ13C to trace carbon cycling in estuarine systems..© 2018 Elsevier Ltden_AU
dc.identifier.citationKelleway, J. J., Mazumder, D., Baldock, J. A., & Saintilan, N. (2018). Carbon isotope fractionation in the mangrove Avicennia marina has implications for food web and blue carbon research. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 205, 68-74. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2018.03.011en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0272-7714en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleEstuarine, Coastal and Shelf Scienceen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination68-74en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2018.03.011en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/11434en_AU
dc.identifier.volume205en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherElsevier B. V.en_AU
dc.subjectCarbonen_AU
dc.subjectStable isotopesen_AU
dc.subjectEcologyen_AU
dc.subjectEcosystemsen_AU
dc.subjectMangrovesen_AU
dc.subjectEstuariesen_AU
dc.subjectHabitaten_AU
dc.titleCarbon isotope fractionation in the mangrove Avicennia marina has implications for food web and blue carbon researchen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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