Stable isotope signatures and nutritional sources of some dominant species from the PACManus hydrothermal area and the Desmos caldera.

ABSTRACT: Deep-sea hydrothermal vents in the western Pacific are increasingly explored for potential mineral extraction. The study of the composition of the food web plays an important guiding role in the ecological protection and restoration of potential mining areas. The general picture of the nutritional sources of species should be established to assess the potential impacts of future mining activities on the biological composition and food sources. To provide basic information, we analyzed the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of the dominant macrofauna (mussels, commensal scale worms, crustaceans, gastropods, and vestimentiferans) at three different sites in the PACManus hydrothermal area and the Desmos caldera. The δ13C ratio was significantly different between species: mussels and co

SUBMITTER: Wang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6296556 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature