Seasonal δ13C and δ15N isoscapes of fish populations along a continental shelf trophic gradient

Abstract

The West Florida Shelf, located in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, transitions from a eutrophic ecosystem dominated by the Mississippi River plume to mesotrophic and oligotrophic ecosystems off the coast of peninsular Florida. Three extensive trawl surveys in this region were used to acquire samples of fish muscle, benthic algae from sea urchin stomach contents, and filtered particulate organic matter (POM) to create δ13C and δ15N isoscapes. Muscle δ15N from three widely distributed fish species, Synodus foetens (inshore lizardfish), Calamus proridens (littlehead porgy), and Syacium papillosum (dusky flounder), exhibited strong longitudinal correlations (Pearson′s r=−0.67 to −0.90, p<0.001) that coincided with the principal trophic gradient, whereas δ13C values of fish muscle and benthic algae were correlated with depth (Pearson′s r=−0.34 to −0.73, p<0.05). Correlations between isotopic values and surface concentrations of chlorophyll and particulate organic carbon (POC) imply linkages between the isotopic baseline and transitions from eutrophic to oligotrophic waters. The δ13C depth gradient and the δ15N longitudinal gradient were consistent between seasons and years, providing a foundation for future stable isotope studies of animal migration in the Gulf of Mexico.