Eutrophication in a semi-desert coastal ecosystem promotes increases in N and C isotopic signatures and changes in primary sources

IRIBARNE OSCAR; ALVAREZ MARIA FERNANDA; ALVAREZ MARIA FERNANDA; BECHERUCCI MARIA EUGENIA; MARTINETTO PAULINA; BECHERUCCI MARIA EUGENIA; MARTINETTO PAULINA; IRIBARNE OSCAR

MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2019 p. 71 - 79

0141-1136

Using C and N isotopic signatures of food web components, we evaluated the land-marine coupling through nutrient flows and the likely changes in the food web structure in tidal channels with contrasting anthropogenic nutrient inputs at a semi desert-macrotidal coastal system (northern Argentine Patagonia). The results showed an increase in the 13C signatures of primary producers and in the 15N signatures in all levels of the benthic food web, from primary producers to predators, with possible changes in the relative contribution of primary food sources for consumer in the tidal channel with high anthropogenic N input. This is an example on the extent of the distribution of anthropogenic N into natural systems, flowing through the food web from terrestrial origin to coastal marine components.