Distinguishing trophic variation from seasonal and size-based isotopic (δ15N) variation of zooplankton

Abstract

We measured the δ15N of particulate organic matter (POM), Daphnia pulex (D), Holopedium gibberum (H), Leptodiaptomus tyrelli (LT), Epischura nevadensis (E), and Chaoborus trivittatus (C) over an annual cycle in Council Lake, a pristine, oligotrophic, fishless lake. Annual averages of the δ15N of plankton (C, LT, E > D, H > POM) matched expected differences in trophic position, but seasonal patterns differed among species. During midsummer, the δ15N of D, H, and LT increased above the δ15N of E and C, despite little temporal or spatial variation in the δ15N of POM (<41 µm). Larger size fractions of POM (41–200 µm) helped explain some of the temporal variability of zooplankton δ15N. Body size of zooplankton was correlated with δ15N for D, C, and E, which could indicate size-based, trophic-level variation; selective feeding; or physiological differences in 15N enrichment. We propose that detailed time series of δ15N for multiple zooplankton species can help determine the seasonal variability of trophic structure in zooplankton assemblages.