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Table 3 Stable isotopes of autotrophic sources (mean  ‰ ± standard deviation) in Pangani estuary

From: Differences in trophic resources and niches of two juvenile predatory species in three Pangani estuarine zones, Tanzania: stomach contents and stable isotope approaches

Primary food source

Upper estuarine zone

Middle estuarine zone

Lower estuarine zone

δ13C

δ15N

δ13C

δ15N

δ13C

δ15N

Sediment POM

− 23.9 ± 0.7 (3)

6.8 ± 0.2 (3)

− 23.3 ± 0.5 (3)

6.9 ± 0.2 (3)

− 22.9 ± 0.7 (3)

6.4 ± 0.3 (3)

Periphyton

− 23.4 ± 0.3 (3)

5.4 ± 0.4 (3)

− 22.75 (2)

6.2 (2)

− 19.9 (2)

6.9 (2)

Microphytobenthos

− 20.6 (1)

3.7 (1)

− 20.5 (1)

3.6 (1)

− 20.2 (1)

4.0 (1)

Filamentous green algae

–

–

− 22.0 (2)

6.0 (2)

− 21.6 ± 1.4 (4)

6.1 ± 0.3 (4)

Macro-algae (Sargassum sp.)

–

–

–

–

− 16.8 (2)

3.0 (2)

Sea grass

–

–

–

–

− 13.7 ± 1.0 (3)

4.0 ± 0.2 (3)

C4 grasses

− 12.9 ± 0.3 (5)

5.2 ± 1.2 (5)

–

–

–

–

C3 Mangrove plant

–

–

− 28.4 ± 1.2 (8)

5.4 ± 1.8 (8)

− 28.7 ± 0.8 (7)

3.9 ± 1.9 (7)

C3 plant

− 28.1 ± 1.3 (5)

6.5 ± 2.5 (5)

− 27.9 (1)

5.71 (1)

–

–

  1. Sample size = n for each autotrophic group is indicated in brackets. When n < 3 standard deviation values are not given
  2. δ13C Carbon isotope ratio, δ15N nitrogen stable isotope ratio, sPOM surface sediment particulate organic matter