Fatty Acid Composition between Nuttallia olivacea and Hediste spp. in the Nanakita Estuary, Japan: Estimation of Food Sources

概要

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The spatial variability of the food availability in different depositional environments (Nanakita estuary, Japan) was investigated using fatty acid biomarkers. The main objective of the present study was to determine the food availability for Nuttallia olivacea and Hediste spp. in connection with the depositional environment of organic matter (OM). Sandy sediment was mainly occupied by diatoms, bacteria and marine organic matter. Meanwhile, muddy sediment is dominated by diatoms, bacteria and terrestrial organic matter. The main food sources and food availability for N. olivacea were mostly dominated by diatoms, bacteria and dinoflagellates in connection with the depositional environment. Meanwhile, the food utilization characteristics of Hediste spp. may be attributable to the lower food selectivity due to their deposit feeding. From these results, the food availability for N. olivacea was more influenced by the depositional environment in estuarine tidal flat than Hediste spp.