MEPS 359:145-150 (2008)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07328

ABSTRACT: Four dominant nematode species and various copepods from an intertidal mudflat in Marennes-Oléron Bay were analyzed for δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N ratios together with their potential food source, the microphytobenthos. It was shown that microphytobenthic C is passed to nematodes either by grazing or predation on herbivorous meiofauna by other nematodes. Diatoms of different sizes exhibited different ¹³C content, which can be reflected in herbivorous meiofauna, such as the nematodes Daptonema oxycerca and Metachromadora remanei and the bulk of copepods, indicating they can select different sizes of diatoms. Results confirm the need to analyze meiofauna feeding habits at the species or genera level since the δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C signatures differed substantially among meiofaunal species.

KEY WORDS: Nematodes · Copepods · Meiofauna · Microphytobenthos · Benthic diatoms · Food web · Mudflat · Marennes-Oléron · Stable isotopes