Natural Isotopic Abundance Research Articles

Effect of Organic Food Intake on Nitrogen Stable Isotopes.

Food choices affect the isotopic composition of the body with each food item leaving its distinct isotopic imprint. The common view is that the natural abundance of the stable isotopes of nitrogen (expressed as δ15N) is higher in animals than in plants that constitute our contemporary diets. Higher δ15N is thus increasingly viewed as a biomarker for meat and fish intake. Here we show that organic compared to conventional farming increases plant δ15N to an extent that can appreciably impact the performance of δ15N as a biomarker. The error that can arise when organic plants are consumed was modelled for the entire range of proportions of plant versus animal protein intake, and accounting for various intakes of organic and conventionally grown crops. This mass balance model allows the interpretation of differences in δ15N in light of organic food consumption. Our approach shows that the relationship between δ15N and meat and fish intake is highly contextual and susceptible to variation at the population, community or group level. We recommend that fertilization practices and organic plant consumption must not be overlooked when using δ15N as a biomarker for meat and fish intake or to assess compliance to nutritional interventions.

Plasma amino acid pools in the umbilical cord artery show lower 15N natural isotope abundance relative to the maternal venous pools

ABSTRACT 15N natural isotope abundance (NIA) is systematically higher in infants’ hair than in that of their mothers at birth. This study aimed to investigate this difference in plasma pools. We compared 15N NIA values for plasma amino acid (AA) pools (free + protein-bound) in the umbilical cord artery (UCA) and vein (UCV) and in the maternal vein (MV) at birth. This preliminary study included 7 mother–infant dyads. Whole plasma was treated (HCl) to hydrolyze protein. Following derivatization, AAs were separated using gas chromatography and compound-specific 15N NIA values were measured on-line using an isotope ratio monitoring mass spectrometer. 15N NIA plasma AA pools in the UCA and UCV were highly correlated to the MV, r 2 > 0.89 and r 2 > 0.88 (both P < 10−4) respectively. The full model found a significant effect of sampling compartment (P = 0.02) and AA type (P < 0.0001) on 15N NIA plasma AA values. 15N NIA plasma AA was 0.74 ‰ higher (P = 0.01) in the MV than in the UCA. This study indicates that a decrease in 15N NIA for plasma AA pools occurs in the fetal–placental unit. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00607061.

Isotope fractionation of micropollutants during large-volume extraction: heads-up from a critical method evaluation for atrazine, desethylatrazine and 2,6-dichlorobenzamide at low ng/L concentrations in groundwater

ABSTRACT Micropollutants are frequently detected in groundwater. Thus, the question arises whether they are eliminated by natural attenuation so that pesticide degradation would be observed with increasing residence time in groundwater. Conventional analytical approaches rely on parent compound/metabolite ratios. These are difficult to interpret if metabolites are sorbed or further transformed. Compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) presents an alternative for identifying degradation based on the analysis of natural isotope abundances in pesticides and their changes during degradation. However, CSIA by gas chromatography–isotope ratio mass spectrometry is challenged by the low concentrations (ng/L) of micropollutants in groundwater. Consequently, large amounts of water need to be sampled requiring enrichment and clean-up steps from interfering matrix effects that must not introduce artefacts in measured isotope values. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of isotope ratio measurements of the frequently detected micropollutants atrazine, desethylatrazine and 2,6-dichlorobenzamide after enrichment from large water volumes (up to 100 L) by solid-phase extraction with consecutive clean-up by HPLC. Associated artefacts of isotope discrimination were found to depend on numerous factors including organic matter content and extraction volume. This emphasizes the necessity to perform a careful method evaluation of sample preparation and sample pre-treatment prior reliable CSIA.

Characterization of vanadium of biological origin for possible applications in physics experiments

For the first time, vanadium of biological origin, extracted from centrifugal fraction of vanadium-storing blood cells of the Ascidia sydneiensis samea species, was characterized as regards its isotopic composition and content of natural radioactive elements potassium (K), thorium (Th) and uranium (U). The natural abundance of vanadium isotopes has been confirmed with high accuracy, thus excluding a possible selectivity within bio-chemical reactions of vanadium concentration in blood cells from seawater. A large potassium concentration (up to 5500 × 10−6 g g−1) was found in the blood cell samples. The concentration of thorium was determined to be about 30 × 10−9 g g−1, while the uranium concentration was about 150 × 10−9 g g−1. Hence, a highly efficient two-stage purification approach with a total vanadium recovery of better than 70% was developed and applied. The final concentrations of K < 100 × 10−6 g g−1 and of U/Th < 0.5 × 10−9 g g−1 in the purified vanadium-containing samples were achieved. Vanadium extracted from centrifugal fraction of vanadium-storing blood cells after two-stage purification approach could be utilized in various applications, where a high chemical purity compound is required. However, to be used as a source of radiopure vanadium in ultra-low-background experiment aimed to search for 50V beta decay, it should be further purified by Electron Beam Melting against residual potassium.

Mangrove Encroachment Alters Decomposition Rate in Saltmarsh Through Changes in Litter Quality

Global climate change is driving the expansion of mangroves into saltmarsh habitat, which may alter the rate and magnitude of organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling due to differences in the structural complexity, litter quality, and other ecophysiological traits of foundation species. This work quantified and compared aboveground litter decomposition of the range-expanding mangrove, Avicennia germinans, and resident saltmarsh cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora, and decomposition of a standard substrate belowground, in the saltmarsh and saltmarsh-mangrove ecotone habitat along the Atlantic coast of Florida, USA. Plant and soil fractions were tested for natural abundances of δ13C and δ15N stable isotopes to elucidate soil nutrient sources. Although aboveground decomposition rates differed between marsh and mangrove species due to differences in litter quality, decomposition rates did not vary between saltmarsh and ecotonal habitats. Decay rates were higher for A. germinans leaf litter (0.007 ± 0.0003 k day−1) than for S. alterniflora (0.004 ± 0.0003 k day−1) regardless of habitat, which suggests that increasing inputs of A. germinans litter with encroachment may increase nutrient availability through rapid turnover. Furthermore, belowground decomposition was similar between habitats (0.015 ± 0.0008 k day−1), whereas soil δ13C and δ15N stable isotopes differed significantly. Collectively, these results suggest that mangrove encroachment may not modify the environmental factors driving decomposition, but alterations in foundation plant species may ultimately alter nutrient cycling within habitats through shifts in litter quality.

A feasible strategy to improve confident elemental composition determination of compounds in complex organic mixture such as natural organic matter by FTICR-MS without internal calibration

Confident elemental composition determination of compounds in complex samples such as natural organic matter (NOM) by ultrahigh resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) is challenging due to the interference between multiple components in these samples during detection. Here the performance of Solarix 15T-FTICR-MS in terms of accurate relative natural isotope abundance (RIA) and mass measurements for elemental composition determination of compounds in complex samples such as NOM was systematically evaluated. The optimal sweep excitation power values ranging from 20% to 22% was found to significantly diminish the underestimation of RIA measurement for 13C1 peaks of NOM components by FTICR-MS. Random error was found to be one of the main sources for the RIA errors of 13C1 peaks with S/N ratios <25. The mean averaged RIA errors of less than 10% could be obtained by averaging the measured RIAs of each 13C1 peaks in five replicated runs. By adjusting the total ion abundance of NOM complex sample between 3.8-E7 and 1.4-E8 which was simultaneously similar to that of external calibrant during detection, mass errors of lower than 1 ppm for NOM components with m/z lower than 700 Da could be obtained without internal calibration. Meanwhile, a linear correlation between mass errors of ions in NOM complex sample and their m/z values could be obtained. The mass error deviation derived from the linearity was firstly used as new criterion to reduce the number of false formula candidates. A novel strategy of combination of high mass accuracy, high spectral accuracy, and mass error deviation for elemental composition determination of unknown compounds in complex sample such as NOM by FTICR-MS was proposed and applied for different complex samples. Compared to the traditional method, about one fold increasement in the number of the unique formula assignments for measured ions was obtained by using our strategy.

N2 fixation dominates nitrogen cycling in a mangrove fiddler crab holobiont

Mangrove forests are among the most productive and diverse ecosystems on the planet, despite limited nitrogen (N) availability. Under such conditions, animal-microbe associations (holobionts) are often key to ecosystem functioning. Here, we investigated the role of fiddler crabs and their carapace-associated microbial biofilm as hotspots of microbial N transformations and sources of N within the mangrove ecosystem. 16S rRNA gene and metagenomic sequencing provided evidence of a microbial biofilm dominated by Cyanobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidota with a community encoding both aerobic and anaerobic pathways of the N cycle. Dinitrogen (N2) fixation was among the most commonly predicted process. Net N fluxes between the biofilm-covered crabs and the water and microbial N transformation rates in suspended biofilm slurries portray these holobionts as a net N2 sink, with N2 fixation exceeding N losses, and as a significant source of ammonium and dissolved organic N to the surrounding environment. N stable isotope natural abundances of fiddler crab carapace-associated biofilms were within the range expected for fixed N, further suggesting active microbial N2 fixation. These results extend our knowledge on the diversity of invertebrate-microbe associations, and provide a clear example of how animal microbiota can mediate a plethora of essential biogeochemical processes in mangrove ecosystems.

Trophic position, elemental ratios and nitrogen transfer in a planktonic host\u2013parasite\u2013consumer food chain including a fungal parasite

Parasitism is arguably the most commonly occurring consumer strategy. However, only a few food web studies assess how well stable isotopes reflect the trophic position of parasitic consumers and results are variable. Even fewer studies have measured the nutrient transfer by parasitic consumers, hindering an assessment of their role in nutrient transfer through food webs. Here we used a food chain consisting of a diatom as host, a chytrid as its parasitic consumer and a rotifer as the predatory consumer of the chytrid, to assess the trophic position of all three food-chain components using their natural 13C and 15N isotope signatures, and to measure the nitrogen transfer from the host via the chytrid to the rotifer by tracing 15N of a labelled host up the food chain. Additionally, we measured the carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratios of all food-chain components. Natural isotope abundance results showed no clear 15N enrichment in the chytrid or rotifer relative to the primary producer. However, estimates of nitrogen transfer indicated that about 14% of host nitrogen was transferred per day from host to chytrid during infection epidemics and that some of this nitrogen was also transferred onward to the rotifer. Moreover, C:N ratios decreased with trophic level, suggesting that the chytrid provided a high-quality food source to the rotifer. In conclusion, our results support the “mycoloop”. The mycooloop proposes that chytrid infections allow the transfer of nutrients bound in large, inedible phytoplankton to zooplankton through the production of edible transmission spores, thereby rerouting nutrients back into the food web.

Variations in the natural 13C and 15N abundance of plants and soils under long-term N addition and precipitation reduction: interpretation of C and N dynamics

BackgroundThe nitrogen isotope natural abundance (δ15N) provides integrated information on ecosystem N dynamics, and carbon isotope natural abundance (δ13C) has been used to infer how water-using processes of plants change in terrestrial ecosystems. However, how δ13C and δ15N abundances in plant life and soils respond to N addition and water availability change is still unclear. Thus, δ13C and δ15N abundances in plant life and soils were used to investigate the effects of long-time (10 years) N addition (+ 50 kg N·ha− 1·yr− 1) and precipitation reduction (− 30% of throughfall) in forest C and N cycling traits in a temperate forest in northern China.ResultsWe analyzed the δ13C and δ15N values of dominant plant foliage, litterfall, fungal sporophores, roots, and soils in the study. The results showed that δ15N values of foliage, litterfall, and surface soil layer’s (0–10 cm) total N were significantly increased by N addition, while δ15N values of fine roots and coarse roots were considerably decreased. Nitrogen addition also significantly increased the δ13C value of fine roots and total N concentration of the surface soil layer compared with the control. The C concentration, δ13C, and δ15N values of foliage and δ15N values of fine roots were significantly increased by precipitation reduction, while N concentration of foliage and litterfall significantly decreased. The combined effects of N addition and precipitation reduction significantly increased the δ13C and δ15N values of foliage as well as the δ15N values of fine roots and δ13C values of litterfall. Furthermore, foliar δ15N values were significantly correlated with foliage δ13C values, surface soil δ15N values, surface soil C concentration, and N concentrations. Nitrogen concentrations and δ13C values of foliage were significantly correlated with δ15N values and N concentrations of fine roots.ConclusionsThis indicates that plants increasingly take up the heavier 15N under N addition and the heavier 13C and 15N under precipitation reduction, suggesting that N addition and precipitation reduction may lead to more open forest ecosystem C and N cycling and affect plant nutrient acquisition strategies.

Escher-Trace: a web application for pathway-based visualization of stable isotope tracing data

BackgroundStable isotope tracing has become an invaluable tool for probing the metabolism of biological systems. However, data analysis and visualization from metabolic tracing studies often involve multiple software packages and lack pathway architecture. A deep understanding of the metabolic contexts from such datasets is required for biological interpretation. Currently, there is no single software package that allows researchers to analyze and integrate stable isotope tracing data into annotated or custom-built metabolic networks.ResultsWe built a standalone web-based software, Escher-Trace, for analyzing tracing data and communicating results. Escher-Trace allows users to upload baseline corrected mass spectrometer (MS) tracing data and correct for natural isotope abundance, generate publication quality graphs of metabolite labeling, and present data in the context of annotated metabolic pathways. Here we provide a detailed walk-through of how to incorporate and visualize 13C metabolic tracing data into the Escher-Trace platform.ConclusionsEscher-Trace is an open-source software for analysis and interpretation of stable isotope tracing data and is available at https://escher-trace.github.io/.

Large Infaunal Bivalves Determine Community Uptake of Macroalgal Detritus and Food Web Pathways

Human activities alter biodiversity, influencing bottom-up and top-down control on food webs which can affect ecosystem functioning. In marine ecosystems, large bivalves play a critical role in benthic–pelagic coupling including nutrient cycling; however, their influence on the uptake of detrital organic matter by benthic communities is less understood. In a replicated factorial field experiment, we examined how the presence or absence (overharvesting scenario) of a large suspension-feeding clam on an intertidal sandflat and the addition of isotopically enriched macroalgal (Ulva sp.) detritus (eutrophication scenario) influenced infaunal biodiversity, and how changes in trophic interactions influenced key ecosystem functions (nutrient cycling and benthic metabolism and primary production). Both clams and Ulva increased community metabolism, but only clams had an effect on nutrient regeneration. We used the 13C- and 15N-enriched Ulva to quantify the effect of clams on detritus uptake in fauna and recovery in sediment. Due to their large biomass, nitrogen incorporation by clams constituted one-third of the infaunal community uptake after 14 days. Clam uptake likely resulted from ingestion of resuspended microphytobentos which had utilized 15N leaking out from decomposing Ulva. In plots without Ulva addition, the effect of clams on the overall resource utilization by the benthic community using natural abundance isotope niche metrics were tested. In plots without clams, the isotope niche of the community was reduced, and less carbon of pelagic origin was channelled into the infaunal food web. Our results imply that the loss of clams changes trophic pathways and reduces community uptake of macroalgal detritus, potentially exacerbating eutrophication.Graphic

Local vibrational modes of natural isotopes of substitutional oxygen in CdTe

We investigated the localized vibrational modes (LVM) of natural oxygen containing $^{16}$O, $^{17}$O, and $^{18}$O isotopes at a substitutional tellurium site in cadmium telluride using infrared absorption spectroscopy at cryogenic temperatures. The main absorption peak observed at 350 cm$^{-1\, }$was formerly attributed to a fundamental LVM mode ($\nu _{0})$ of oxygen at a tellurium site. The relatively weak absorption peaks observed at 331 cm$^{-1\, }$and 340 cm$^{-1\, }$are assigned as the same $\nu_{0}$ mode of the $^{17}$O and $^{18}$O isotopes, respectively, based on their relative intensities and spectral positions. The spectral positions were confirmed with theoretical calculations using a linear chain model where the peak position at 350 cm$^{-1}$ was taken as the reference for the $^{16}$O isotope. From a least square analysis of the observed peak positions we were able to calculate the force constants from perturbation theory. A Lorentzian line shape analysis of each $\nu_{0}$ absorption peak, considering the effects of isotopic mass and natural abundance variations of the host Cd atoms, was also carried out to further confirm their assignments. Reasonably good line shape fittings were obtained for $\nu _{0}$ modes of all isotopes of oxygen.

High-resolution spectroscopy and analysis of the ν3, ν4 and 2ν4 bands of SiF4 in natural isotopic abundance

Silicon tetrafluoride (SiF4) is a trace component of volcanic gases. However, a better knowledge of spectroscopic parameters is needed for this molecule in order to derive accurate concentrations. This motivated FTIR measurements with high-spectral resolution (0.001 cm−1) and an extensive study of its infrared absorption bands, including the fundamentals and overtone and combinations. We present here a detailed analysis and modeling of the strongly absorbing ν3and ν4 fundamental bands, for the three isotopologues in natural abundance: 28SiF4 (92.23 %), 29SiF4 (4.67 %) and 30SiF4 (3.10 %). It includes a global fit with consistent parameter sets for the ground and excited states. In particular, all existing rotational line data have been included. The 2ν4 band of 28SiF4 could also be analyzed in detail. A first fit of the dipole moment derivative for the ν3 band for 28SiF4 has been performed, along with two independent estimates of the integrated band intensity; the results are consistent with literature values, around 690 km/mol. The isotopic dependence of band centers and Coriolis parameters has also been studied. TFSiCaSDa, a new database of cross sections and calculated lines for the ν3 band of SiF4, has been set up.

Development of Tin-Based Single Crystal Scintillator for Double-Beta Decay Experiments

124Sn is one of the potential candidate isotopes for the study of $2\nu \beta \beta $ and $0\nu \beta \beta $ decay having a $\text{Q}_{ \boldsymbol {\beta \beta } }$ value of 2.228 MeV and natural isotopic abundance of 5.8%. 124Sn-loaded-liquid scintillator has been investigated for $2\nu \beta \beta $ and $0\nu \beta \beta $ decay search. Since $2\nu \beta \beta $ has not been experimentally observed from 124Sn isotope, unlike some of the isotopes subject to double-beta decay (DBD), it is necessary to study this element. However, lower light yield, chemical instability, and lower Sn-loading capability are some of the limitations of the liquid and plastic scintillators. The current investigation has been carried out to develop a single crystal of tetraphenyltin (TPSn) for the $2\nu \beta \beta $ and $0\nu \beta \beta $ decay search experiments. The TPSn powder for crystal growing was purified by recrystallization. The single crystals were grown using two-zone vertical Bridgman and slow solvent-evaporation techniques. Purified powder, diphenyloxazole (PPO), 1, 4-bis(2-methylstyryl) benzene (bis-MSB), and anthracene-doped Bridgman-grown crystal and anthracene-doped solvent-evaporation grown crystals showed X-ray induced emission peaking at 475 nm. The anthracene-doped crystal grown by solvent evaporation method showed scintillation under $\alpha $ -particles excitation from 241Am source. Two decay components, 16 ns with 68.7% and 132 ns with 31.3% relative contributions, were observed under $\alpha $ -particles excitation. This article suggests that after crystal growth optimization, TPSn can be a promising candidate for the DBD search of 124Sn.

Measured Optical Absorption Cross Sections of TiO

Abstract A laboratory emission spectrum of TiO in the visible and near-infrared regions (476–1176 nm) has been calibrated and corrected. High-resolution experimental absorption cross sections for TiO with natural isotopic abundance are provided at a temperature of about 2300 K. These cross sections have been compared with those derived from the ExoMol line list. The experimental cross sections can be used directly as a template for cross correlation TiO detection in hot Jupiter exoplanets.

In vitro application of carbonic anhydrase to accelerate the equilibration of 18O between H2O and CO2 for the rapid measurement of 18O/16O isotope ratios in aqueous samples

ABSTRACT A novel method of the accelerated equilibration of 18O between CO2 and H2O for the measurement of the 18O/16O isotope ratios in aqueous samples with natural isotope abundances is presented. This rapid equilibrium method is based on the in vitro application of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA). The CA from bovine erythrocytes was adsorptively fixed to 3-mm glass beads with an etched surface. After the addition of this carrier-fixed CA catalyst to the water sample, the isotope equilibrium was already reached after 1 h. The previously used non-catalysed 18O isotope exchange in water samples needs about 24 h. Whole blood samples also showed fast 18O isotope equilibration, which definitely results from the native presence of CA in erythrocytes. By shortening the time for sample preparation, the CA catalysed technique can significantly increase the throughput of the samples to be measured, and also 18O and 2H measurement by means of isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) may be synchronized. The 2H and 18O sample preparation can be performed in the same reaction vessel because cross-effects at the simultaneous use of Pt and CA catalysts do not occur.

Natural isotopic abundances as markers of compliance in clinical trials

Natural isotopic abundances as markers of compliance in clinical trials

Mycoheterotrophic plants living on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are generally enriched in 13C, 15N and 2H isotopes

Abstract Fully mycoheterotrophic plants are thought to obtain carbon exclusively from their root‐associated fungal partners. The general enrichment of these plants in the heavy isotopes 13C and 15N suggests that fungi are the main nutrient source for these plants. Yet, the majority of studies have targeted mycoheterotrophic plants associated with ectomycorrhizal, orchid mycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi, while mycoheterotrophic plants living on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi remain understudied. Here, we sampled 13 species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fully mycoheterotrophic plants from five families and co‐occurring autotrophic reference plants growing in forests of tropical South America, tropical South East Asia and temperate Australasia. We measured stable isotope natural abundances (δ13C, δ15N, δ2H and δ18O), determined total nitrogen concentrations and used high‐throughput DNA sequencing to characterize the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities associated with the sampled mycoheterotrophic plants. We observed a general enrichment in 13C and 15N isotopes across mycoheterotrophic plant families and geographic regions. We confirm cases where no 15N enrichment is present, but we show that in general arbuscular mycoheterotrophic plants are enriched in 15N. Moreover, we demonstrate for the first time that these plants are significantly enriched in 2H but not in 18O in relation to their autotrophic references. The fungal communities targeted by the mycoheterotrophs mainly consist of Glomeraceae and show strong association with the isotopic signatures and geographic origin of the plants. Synthesis. Our findings enlarge the limited knowledge on the multi‐element stable isotopic signatures of mycoheterotrophic plants living on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. We show that these plants are enriched in 13C and 2H as expected due to their mycoheterotrophic nutrition, and that in general they are also enriched in 15N, despite some exceptions. Variation in stable isotope signatures is likely influenced by plant taxonomy, geography and fungal community composition.

Best Practices in Utilization of 2D-NMR Spectral Data as the Input for Chemometric Analysis in Biopharmaceutical Applications.

Quality attributes (QAs) are measureable parameters of a biologic that impact product safety and efficacy and are essential characteristics that are linked to positive patient health outcomes. One QA, higher order structure (HOS), is directly coupled to the function of protein biologics, and deviations in this QA may cause adverse effects. To address the critical need for HOS assessment, methods for analyzing structural fingerprints from 2D nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (2D-NMR) spectra have been established for drug substances as large as monoclonal antibody therapeutics. Here, chemometric analyses have been applied to 2D 1H,13C-methyl NMR correlation spectra of the IgG1κ NIST monoclonal antibody (NISTmAb), recorded at natural isotopic abundance, to benchmark the performance and robustness of the methods. In particular, a variety of possible spectral input schemes (e.g., chemical shift, peak intensity, and total spectral matrix) into chemometric algorithms are examined using two case studies: (1) a large global 2D-NMR interlaboratory study and (2) a blended series of enzymatically glycan-remodeled NISTmAb isoforms. These case studies demonstrate that the performance of chemometric algorithms using either peak positions or total spectral matrix as the input will depend on the study design and likely be product-specific. In general, peak positions are found to be a more robust spectral parameter for input into chemometric algorithms, whereas the total spectral matrix approach lends itself to easier automation and requires less user intervention. Analysis with different input data also shows differences in sensitivity to certain changes in HOS, highlighting that product knowledge will further guide appropriate method selection based on the fit-for-purpose application in the context of biopharmaceutical development, production, and quality control.

Effects of Upwelling Intensity on Nitrogen and Carbon Fluxes through the Planktonic Food Web off A Coruña (Galicia, NW Spain) Assessed with Stable Isotopes

The input of new nutrients by upwelling in shelf waters, and the associated carbon and nitrogen fluxes, can be traced by their stable isotope signatures in organic matter. Here, we analyze the relationships between upwelling intensity and natural abundance of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in seston, sedimented particles, and four plankton size fractions (200 to 5000 µm) sampled monthly during 2010 and 2011 in a seasonal upwelling ecosystem. Upwelling modified the seasonal warming stratification by introducing cold and nutrient-rich waters in subsurface layers, enhancing chlorophyll-a and diatom abundance. Seston and sedimented particles were enriched in heavy nitrogen (but not carbon) isotopes linearly with upwelling intensity, indicating a primary effect of upwelling on phytoplankton production. In contrast, all plankton fractions were enriched in heavy carbon isotopes with upwelling, mainly due to the consumption of diatoms. These results confirm the differential effect of upwelling on nitrogen and carbon fluxes in the plankton food web. Direct effects of the new nitrogen inputs on phytoplankton are less evident with the increase of plankton size as nitrogen is repeatedly recycled, while the enriched carbon of plankton suggests the consumption of diatoms during upwelling. We provide linear equations to assess the influence of changes in upwelling intensity on nitrogen and carbon fluxes in seston and plankton in this ecosystem, as well as to estimate reference baseline values for food web studies.