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dc.contributor.authorGuest, Michaela A
dc.contributor.authorConnolly, Rod M
dc.date.accessioned2017-05-03T15:22:46Z
dc.date.available2017-05-03T15:22:46Z
dc.date.issued2006
dc.date.modified2011-07-07T04:32:20Z
dc.identifier.issn0171-8630
dc.identifier.doi10.3354/meps310015
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10072/14385
dc.description.abstractWe used carbon stable isotopes to examine the influence of the size of saltmarsh patches on the trophic contribution of saltmarsh grass and mangroves to 2 species of resident crabs (Parasesarma erythrodactyla and Australoplax tridentata). Crabs were collected at different distances across the saltmarsh-mangrove interface at each of 10 saltmarshes of different sizes (0.01 to 8.10 ha) adjacent to mangrove forests (each >4 ha). The d13C values of crabs at all 10 marshes fitted a sigmoidal curve, with rapidly changing d13C values across the saltmarsh-mangrove interface (the transition zone). The size of saltmarsh patches had a significant effect on d13C values of P. erythrodactyla collected in the saltmarsh, with a similar trend shown by A. tridentata. On large saltmarshes (>0.4 ha), d13C values of crabs (P. erythrodactyla, -15.9黠A. tridentata, -15.4) collected >5 m onto the saltmarsh matched that of the saltmarsh grass Sporobolus virginicus (-15.5). Carbon movement and assimilation by crabs was limited to <5 m. On small saltmarshes (<0.3 ha), d13C values of saltmarsh crabs (-18.1 and -16.8, respectively) were depleted, indicating assimilation of carbon from S. virginicus, but also from a more depleted allochthonous source, e.g. mangroves (-28.1), microphytobenthos (-23.7), or phytoplankton (ca. -20). Saltmarsh patch size did not affect the extent of carbon movement or assimilation by crabs in mangroves. Given that habitat patch size can influence pathways of carbon supply to invertebrates, the role of estuarine habitats in food webs cannot be assumed to be independent of the size and configuration of habitats.
dc.description.peerreviewedYes
dc.description.publicationstatusYes
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherInter-Research
dc.publisher.placeGermany
dc.publisher.urihttp://www.int-res.com/journals/meps/
dc.relation.ispartofstudentpublicationN
dc.relation.ispartofpagefrom15
dc.relation.ispartofpageto24
dc.relation.ispartofjournalMarine Ecology Progress Series
dc.relation.ispartofvolume310
dc.rights.retentionY
dc.subject.fieldofresearchOceanography
dc.subject.fieldofresearchEcology
dc.subject.fieldofresearchZoology
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode3708
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode3103
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode3109
dc.titleMovement of carbon among estuarine habitats: the influence of saltmarsh patch size
dc.typeJournal article
dc.type.descriptionC1 - Articles
dc.type.codeC - Journal Articles
gro.facultyGriffith Sciences, Griffith School of Environment
gro.date.issued2006
gro.hasfulltextNo Full Text
gro.griffith.authorConnolly, Rod M.


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