Matthias Pilecky1,2, Katharina Winter1, Leonard I Wassenaar3, Martin J Kainz1,2. 1. WasserCluster Lunz - Biologische Station, Dr. Carl-Kupelwieser Promenade 5, Lunz/See, 3293, Austria. 2. Department of BioMedical Research, Danube University Krems, Krems, 3500, Austria. 3. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna International Centre, Vienna, 1400, Austria.
Abstract
RATIONALE: Compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) is a powerful tool for a better understanding of trophic transfer of dietary molecules in and across ecosystems. Hydrogen isotope values (δ2 H) in consumer tissues have potential to more clearly distinguish dietary sources than 13 C or 15 N values within and among habitats, but have not been used at the fatty acid level for ecological purposes. METHODS: Here we demonstrate a new online high-capacity gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry technique (2 H-CSIA) that offers accurate and reproducible determination of δ2 H values for a range of fatty acids from organisms of aquatic food webs. RESULTS: We show that lipid extracts obtained from aquatic sources, such as biofilms, leaves, invertebrates, or fish muscle tissue, have distinctive δ2 H values that can be used to assess sources and trophic interactions, as well as dietary allocation and origin of fatty acids within consumer tissue. CONCLUSIONS: The new 2 H-CSIA method can be applied to evaluate sources and trophic dynamics of fatty acids in organisms ranging from food web ecology to migratory connectivity.
RATIONALE: Compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) is a powerful tool for a better understanding of trophic transfer of dietary molecules in and across ecosystems. Hydrogen isotope values (δ2 H) in consumer tissues have potential to more clearly distinguish dietary sources than 13 C or 15 N values within and among habitats, but have not been used at the fatty acid level for ecological purposes. METHODS: Here we demonstrate a new online high-capacity gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry technique (2 H-CSIA) that offers accurate and reproducible determination of δ2 H values for a range of fatty acids from organisms of aquatic food webs. RESULTS: We show that lipid extracts obtained from aquatic sources, such as biofilms, leaves, invertebrates, or fish muscle tissue, have distinctive δ2 H values that can be used to assess sources and trophic interactions, as well as dietary allocation and origin of fatty acids within consumer tissue. CONCLUSIONS: The new 2 H-CSIA method can be applied to evaluate sources and trophic dynamics of fatty acids in organisms ranging from food web ecology to migratory connectivity.
Authors: Matthias Pilecky; Libor Závorka; David X Soto; Fen Guo; Leonard I Wassenaar; Martin J Kainz Journal: Environ Sci Technol Date: 2022-07-21 Impact factor: 11.357