南海海马冷泉大型底栖生物碳-氮-硫稳定同位素特征及其食物网结构

Carbon–nitrogen–sulfur stable isotope signatures and food web structure of macrofauna in the Haima cold seeps, South China Sea

  • 摘要: 深海冷泉生态系统依赖化能合成维持高生物量的大型底栖生物群落,构成典型的非光合食物网。本研究在南海海马冷泉,通过系统分析3种依赖化能自养共生菌的物种(海马偏顶蛤Gigantidas haimaensis、中国海伴溢蛤Archivesica marissinica、尖猬拟崖管虫Paraescarpia echinospica)和3种异养型物种(佩氏鳃鳞虫Branchipolynoe pettiboneae、拟蛾螺Phymorhynchus buccinoides、新布罗迪石蟹Neolithodes brodiei)的碳、氮、硫稳定同位素(δ13C、δ15N、δ34S)组成,揭示海马冷泉生态系统营养级及食物网结构。结果表明,海马偏顶蛤δ13C值显著偏负(−63.9‰~−52.5‰),反映其与甲烷氧化菌共生特征;中国海伴溢蛤和尖猬拟崖管虫则表现出相对偏正的δ13C值和亏损的δ34S值,指示其硫氧化代谢途径。佩氏鳃鳞虫通过寄生方式从海马偏顶蛤体内获取能量,拟蛾螺主要摄食海马偏顶蛤,新布罗迪石蟹的δ15N值(8.8‰~11.2‰)最偏正,处于最高营养级。结合贝叶斯混合模型(MixSIAR)推演食物来源和贡献,初步构建了海马冷泉生态系统的四级食物网结构。本研究证实稳定同位素是解析冷泉生态系统营养路径与流体生物地球化学过程的重要工具,对理解深海冷泉-生物圈相互作用具有重要意义。

     

    Abstract: Deep-sea cold seep ecosystems are characterized by chemosynthesis-based trophic networks that support dense and diverse macrofaunal assemblages independent of sunlight. The trophic structure of six representative macrofaunal species—including Gigantidas haimaensis (mussel), Archivesica marissinica (clam), Paraescarpia echinospica (tubeworm), Branchipolynoe pettiboneae, Phymorhynchus buccinoides, and Neolithodes brodiei (king crab)—collected from the Haima cold seeps in the South China Sea, were investigated. Stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C), nitrogen (δ15N), and sulfur (δ34S) of dissected soft tissues were analyzed, and the metabolic pathways and trophic networks were elucidated. Results show that G. haimaensis had extremely low δ13C values (63.9‰ to 52.5‰), indicating symbiosis with methane-oxidizing bacteria. In contrast, the clam and tubeworm exhibited higher δ13C values and markedly low δ34S values, being consistent with sulfide oxidation. Predatory species such as B. pettiboneae that obtain energy from mussels by parasitic means, and P. buccinoides show intermediate δ13C and elevated δ15N values, suggesting dietary reliance on mussels. The king crab occupied the highest trophic level with the highest δ15N (8.8‰ to 11.2‰). The Bayesian mixing model (MixSIAR) was employed to estimate dietary contributions, allowing us to construct a trophic framework of the Haima seep ecosystem. This study highlights the application of multiple stable isotope tracers in resolving the carbon and sulfur cycling pathways and provided new insights into the biogeochemical interactions between cold seep fluids and benthic macrofauna.

     

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