Published

Site: Santa Barbara Coastal LTER

Credit: SBC LTER

Decades of research based on carbon stable isotope analyses supported the idea that macroalgal detritus, especially that of kelp, is a major source of food to coastal marine ecosystems, particularly suspension feeders. Comparative and experimental research from SBC LTER has overturned this paradigm, showing that phytoplankton, not kelp, are the main food resource for coastal benthic suspension feeders.

For Further Reading:
  • Page, HM et al. 2008. Assessing the importance of land and marine sources of organic matter to kelp forest food webs. Marine Ecology Progress Series. doi: 10.3354/meps07382
  • Miller, RJ et al. 2013. δ13C and δ15N of particulate organic matter in the Santa Barbara Channel: drivers and implications for trophic inference. Marine Ecology Progress Series. doi: 10.3354/meps10098
For Further Info:
  • Robert Miller
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