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Effects of acid washing on stable isotope ratios of C and N in penaeid shrimp and seagrass: Implications for food-web studies using multiple stable isotopes
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Effects of acid washing on stable isotope ratios of C and N in penaeid shrimp and seagrass: Implications for food-web studies using multiple stable isotopes

S.E. Bunn, N.R. Loneragan and M.A. Kempster
Limnology and Oceanography, Vol.40(3), pp.622-625
1995
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Abstract

We investigated the effects of acid washing on the carbon and nitrogen composition and stable isotope ratios of C and N in shrimp (Metapenaeus spp.) and seagrass (Enhalus acoroides). Acid washing did not affect the mean 6’ 3C ratios for juvenile Metapenaeus moyebi and resulted in only an ecologically insignificant change (0.3%0) in mean P3C ratios for larger Metapenaeus bennettae. In contrast, acid washing increased the mean 615N signatures of shrimp tissue (- 3G) and decreased that of seagrass (N 1.89&) to a degree that may confound the interpretation of food webs. The increase in %C and %N in both shrimp and seagrass after acid washing suggests that the changes in isotope ratios are due to loss of molecules comparatively low in C and N. Treating samples by acid washing also resulted in an increase in the variation among individuals for both 615N and 613C, which would lead to a loss of statistical power for testing differences between species, sites, or seasons.

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