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Comparison of stable carbon and nitrogen isotope signatures of the polychaete Nereis diversicolor from different estuarine sites

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2000

Mathilde Nithart
Mathilde Nithart
Affiliation:
School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, U.K. Centre d'Océanologie de Marseille, Rue de la Batterie des Lions, 13007 Marseille, France
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Abstract

The natural abundance of stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios for Nereis diversicolor (Annelida: Polychaeta) from 16 sites around the UK are analysed. Differences in the isotopic compositions reflect variations either in the dietary origin or in the estuary characteristics. In contrast to Stiffkey Nereis, the ones from the other estuaries are characterized by broad δ13C (−13.9 to −22.6‰) and δ15N (+11.3 to +17.9‰) ranges. An hypothesis based on sediment denitrification is discussed to explain the anomalously heavy δ15N compositions of Nereis from the Humber Estuary (+16.9 to +18.1‰) and Breydon Water (+17.7±0.5‰).

Type
Brief Report
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 80 , Issue 4 , August 2000 , pp. 763 - 765
Copyright
2000 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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