Stable Isotopic Assessment of Site Loyalty and Relationships between Size and Trophic Position of the Atlantic Horseshoe Crab, Limulus polyphemus, within Cape Cod Estuaries
Connell et al uses field measurements and stable isotope analysis to determine whether the trophic position and site loyalty described by Carmichael et al in Pleasant Bay were also found in two additional Cape estuaries, Stage Harbor and Barbstable Harbor, and to determine how the trophic position o...
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Published in | The Biological bulletin (Lancaster) Vol. 205; no. 2; pp. 254 - 255 |
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Main Authors | , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
United States
Marine Biological Laboratory
01.10.2003
University of Chicago Press |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Connell et al uses field measurements and stable isotope analysis to determine whether the trophic position and site loyalty described by Carmichael et al in Pleasant Bay were also found in two additional Cape estuaries, Stage Harbor and Barbstable Harbor, and to determine how the trophic position of horseshoe crabs might change as adult crabs grow. The results of the work lend support to earlier findings about the position of horseshoe crabs as generalist predators in the estuarine food webs of Cape Cod; demonstrate that horseshoe crabs are clearly linked to land-derived nitrogen source; suggest a possible diet shift from Spartina-based food sources to more phytoplankton-based sources as adult crabs grow; and show that the crabs exhibit considerable within- estuary loyalty in their foraging habits. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0006-3185 1939-8697 |
DOI: | 10.2307/1543281 |