Cited by 571Isotope Analysis in EcologyMarine and fisheries researchMarine Biology and Ecology Research

Fatty acids as dietary tracers in benthic food webs

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Kelly, JR, Scheibling, RE·2012·Marine Ecology Progress Series

Abstract

Fatty acid (FA) analysis is a well-established tool for studying trophic interactions in marine habitats. However, its application to benthic food webs poses 2 particular challenges. First, unlike pelagic zooplankton, benthic consumers have access to different sizes and functional groups of primary producers and may consume a highly mixed diet. Classes of benthic primary producers are distinct in their overall FA composition, but most do not possess unique marker FAs that can be used to identify their contribution to higher trophic levels. Second, unlike mammalian predators, benthic invertebrates have the capacity to significantly modify their dietary FAs and thereby obscure markers for food sources. Controlled feeding studies have been used to distinguish dietary tracer FAs from those that are modified by the consumer in several benthic invertebrates, but more such studies are needed. Despite these challenges, FAs have been used to study trophic structure in a variety of benthic habitats including the deep sea, polar regions, estuaries, and the rocky subtidal zone. However, the complexity of benthic food webs and lack of unique markers impose uncertainties in the interpretation of FA data from field studies. Multivariate analyses are necessary for analyzing FA datasets, although univariate tests can be useful for comparing levels of informative FAs among food sources and consumers. Combining FA analysis with other lines of evidence, such as stable isotope analysis, offers a more reliable approach to examining trophic interactions in benthic systems.

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Authors
Kelly, Jr., & Scheibling, R.
Affiliations
Dalhousie University (CA)
Corresponding author
Kelly, JR
Venue
Marine Ecology Progress Series
Published
2012-02-02
Volume
446
Pages
1-22
ISSN
  • 0171-8630 (ISSN-L)
  • 1616-1599
OpenAlex
W2333553918
Cited by
571
References
114
Citations by year
2026: 32 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 39 · 2023: 47 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 61 · 2020: 53 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 46 · 2017: 36 · 2016: 40 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 33 · 2012: 10
FWCI
20.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Marine Ecology Progress Series (publishedVersion)
  • DalSpace (Dalhousie University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Killam Trusts
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Isotope Analysis in Ecology
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Marine and fisheries research
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine Biology and Ecology Research
Keywords
fatty acids, benthic food webs, trophic interactions, benthic invertebrates, primary producers, trophic structure, stable isotope analysis, multivariate analysis

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