Stable isotope analyses (δ15N and δ13C) of the trophic relationships ofCallinectes sapidus in two North Carolina estuaries

Abstract

The present study focused on detecting variations in trophic relationships among blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) consumers according to water quality along two estuaries in North Carolina. Stable isotope (δ15N and δ13C) analyses of particulate organic matter and bivalve(Rangia cuneata andCorbicula fluminea) food sources were examined in combination with an Isosource mixing model. Results suggest that blue crab δ13C values increased significantly with increasing salinity from upper to lower sites along the Neuse River estuary (NRE; R2 = 0.87, p < 0.01) and Alligator River estuary (R2 = 0.92, p < 0.01). There was a positive relationship between blue crab δ15N values and nitrate concentrations for the NRE (R2 = 0.48, p = 0.12). This study found that blue crab δ13C values increased with salinity from upper to lower regions along both estuaries. Results suggest that blue crab production may have used alternative food sources that were isotopically (δ13C) depleted, especially in the upper NRE, and enriched sources in the mid to lower regions of both estuaries. Consumers sampled from the upper NRE may be influenced by higher nitrogen input from urban land use and municipal wastewater.