Tracing the isotopic signal of a cyanobacteria bloom through the food web of a Baltic Sea coastal lagoon

Abstract

This study shows that cyanobacteria blooms support secondary production in a diverse group of benthic and pelagic consumers and illustrate the utility of stable isotopes for tracking the cyanobacteria signal in aquatic food webs. We characterized seasonal patterns in δ13C and δ15N signatures of particulate organic matter (POM) and consumers in a eutrophic coastal lagoon (Curonian Lagoon, SE Baltic Sea) before, during and after a cyanobacteria bloom. We found that during the pre- and post-bloom periods (spring and autumn), POM from the lagoon was isotopically indistinguishable from riverine POM. During the bloom, the increase in phytoplankton biomass and dominance by N2-fixing cyanobacteria resulted in higher δ13C and lower δ15N of POM. These changes in POM were reflected in isotopic signatures of primary consumers with greatest response among fast-growing planktonic and nectobenthic crustaceans and chironomids. Results from end-member mixing analyses suggest that cyanobacteria accounted for 50–80% of production by these consumers during the bloom period. Weaker responses were observed among slow-growing species, particularly long-lived bivalves such as Dreissena. Cyanobacteria-induced shifts in δ13C and δ15N could be tracked to secondary consumers, particularly fast-growing forms such as predatory zooplankton (Leptodora) and juvenile fishes (European perch). We suggest that reconstruction of the food web at the upper trophic levels should incorporate isotopic baselines of both fast- and slow-growing primary consumers to reflect the contribution of blooms events.