Transverse Variation of Food Compositions of &lt;i&gt;Corbicula bivalves&lt;/i&gt; in a Tidal River with Series of Groins

Nannan Li,Takashi Tashiro,Tetsuro Tsujimoto

doi:10.4236/jwarp.2015.717121

Abstract

This study was conducted to clarify the food compositions of Corbicula bivalves (C. japonica and leana) in tidal rivers with varied landscapes. In order to grasp their trophic structures, we measured the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of the collected samples such as the bivalves with varied growth stages and the suspended particulate organic matters (SPOMs) with varied landscapes as their food sources, and then analyzed their relationships with IsoSource mixing model software. The stable isotope ratio measurements clarified that there was a large difference in the ranges of C. japonica and leana in spite of the same sampling locations, and the IsoSource analysis could quantitatively describe their food compositions. According to the results, it could be clarified that the variations in food compositions were dependent not only on the species difference but also on their growth stages. Furthermore, it might suggest that their diet preferences affected the spatial distributions of these Corbicula bivalves in this location.

Highlights

Estuarine zone provides nursery grounds for benthic organisms
How to cite this paper: Li, N., Tashiro, T. and Tsujimoto, T. (2015) Transverse Variation of Food Compositions of Corbicula bivalves in a Tidal River with Series of Groins
Corbicula japonica and leana as the two of three native Corbicula species have been widely recognized in Japan [2]

Summary

Introduction

Estuarine zone provides nursery grounds for benthic organisms. Especially, suspended feeding bivalves as a kind of important benthic organism exhibit higher density populations and extremely larger standing stocks ofHow to cite this paper: Li, N., Tashiro, T. and Tsujimoto, T. (2015) Transverse Variation of Food Compositions of Corbicula bivalves in a Tidal River with Series of Groins. Estuarine zone provides nursery grounds for benthic organisms. Suspended feeding bivalves as a kind of important benthic organism exhibit higher density populations and extremely larger standing stocks of. C. japonica is commonly found in brackish rivers or lakes, while C. leana is considered as a freshwater species, and it is reported that the landing of Corbicula species has been decreased [3] [4]. Due to their filter feeding, the nitrogen load from upstream emissions and leaching could be reduced by around 10.7% [5]. There are many conventional studies to be treated ecologies and habitat environments of these Corbicula species, in order to conserve their population in estuary environments

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Discussion

Conclusion