Trophodynamics and organic matter assimilation pathways in the northeast Chukchi Sea, Alaska

We analyzed trophic linkages in the northeast Chukchi Sea shelf based on the stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic analysis of 39 species collected in 2009 and 2010. To decipher organic matter assimilation pathways, benthic fauna were first categorized into nine trophic guilds based on their physical location in the seabed (epibenthic, surface, or subsurface), feeding mode (suspension feeder, deposit feeder, predator, or scavenger), and food source (suspended particulate organic matter, phytoplankton, zooplankton, sediment, microflora, meiofauna, or macrofauna). A discriminant function analysis (DFA) determined that feeding modes were predicted by stable isotope values at an overall classification success rate of 42%, although classification success of each individual guild varied from 0 to 66%. In some instances, stable isotopes classified trophic guilds incorrectly more often than correctly, suggesting high trophic redundancy in the system. A striking pattern was observed where the δ13C values of individuals in some trophic guilds, ranging from about −23 to −17‰, were substantially more 13C-enriched than representative end-members, which includes phytoplankton (−24.0‰), suspended particulate organic matter (−24.3‰), and bulk sediment organic matter (−23.3‰). In contrast, near-seafloor suspended particulate organic matter was significantly 13C-enriched compared to suspended particulate organic matter of near surface waters (p<0.05), and bulk sedimentary organic matter was more 13C-enriched than overlying phytoplankton at seven of 10 stations. This suggests the presence of an unmeasured 13C-enriched end-member that is a product of biogeochemical alteration and reworking by the sediment microbial community. Although the microbial community is difficult to quantify using bulk stable isotope analytical techniques, these results indicate it cannot be overlooked as a critical component and avenue through which large amounts of reduced carbon are assimilated by a rich and diverse arctic shelf food web.