Benthic foraminifera as trophic links between phytodetritus and benthic metazoans: carbon and nitrogen isotopic evidence

摘要

We examined the trophic levels of deep-sea benthic foraminifera and metazoans based on stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions of soft tissue to evaluate the role of foraminifera in deep-sea benthic ecosystems. Living benthic foraminifera and met