Tracing organic matter sources of estuarine tidal flat nematodes with stable carbon isotopes

摘要

The present study explores the use of stable carbon isotopes to trace organic matter sources of intertidal nematodes in the Schelde estuary(SW Netherlands). Stable carbon isotope sig- natures of nematodes from a saltmarsh and 4 tidal flat stations were determined in spring and winter situations, and compared to isotope ratios of organic matter within the estuary. Nematodes collected from fine sandy tidal sediments in late spring and during mild and sunny late winter weather hadδ~13C values consistent with microphytobenthos as their prime carbon source.