Chlorophyll <i>a</i> specific Δ¹⁴C, δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values in stream periphyton: implications for aquatic food web studies

Abstract

Abstract. We determined the isotopic composition of chlorophyll a in periphytic algae attached to a streambed substrate (periphyton). The samples were collected from a stream flowing on limestone bedrock in the Seri River, central Japan. Stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) and natural radiocarbon abundances (Δ14C) were measured in chlorophyll a (δ13Cchl, δ15Nchl and Δ14Cchl) and bulk (δ13Cbulk, δ15Nbulk and Δ14Cbulk) for periphyton, pure aquatic primary producer (Cladophora sp.) and terrestrial primary producer (Quercus glauca). Periphyton δ13Cbulk and δ13Cchl values did not necessarily correspond to δ13Cbulk for an algal-grazing specialist (Mayfly larva, Epeorus latifolium), suggesting that periphyton δ13C values do not faithfully trace carbon transfer between primary producers and primary consumers. Periphyton Δ14Cchl values (−258 ‰ in April and −190 ‰ in October) were slightly lower than Δ14Cbulk values (−228 ‰ in April and −179 ‰ in October), but were close to the Δ14C value for dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) (−217 ± 31 ‰), which is a mixture of weathered carbonates (Δ14C = −1000 ‰) and dissolved atmospheric CO2 (Δ14C approximately +30 ‰ in 2013). Δ14Cchl values were also close to Δ14Cbulk for E. latifolium (−215 ‰ in April and −199 ‰ in October) and Cladophora sp. (−210 ‰), whereas the Δ14Cbulk value for Q. glauca (+27 ‰) was closer to Δ14C for atmospheric CO2. Although the bulk isotopic composition of periphyton is recognised as a surrogate for the photosynthetic algal community, natural periphyton is a mixture of aquatic and terrestrial organic materials. Our results indicate that the bulk periphyton matrix at the study site consists of 89 to 95 % algal carbon (derived from 14C-depleted DIC) and 5 to 11 % terrestrial organic carbon (derived from 14C-enriched atmospheric CO2).