Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.3354/ame046273
Title (Primary) Linking larval chironomids to methane: seasonal variation of the microbial methane cycle and chironomid δ13C
Author Deines, P.; Grey, J.; Richnow, H.H.; Eller, G.
Source Titel Aquatic Microbial Ecology
Year 2007
Department ISOBIO
Volume 46
Issue 3
Page From 273
Page To 282
Language englisch
Keywords Methane cycle; Stable isotopes; Chironomid larvae; Seasonality
Abstract Methane-derived carbon has been shown to be an important carbon source for macroinvertebrates in several studies of lake ecosystems using stable isotopes. Furthermore, season and lake morphology appear to influence the importance of methane as a carbon source. However, rarely have the dynamics of the methane cycle been measured concurrently with the isotope signatures of chironomid larvae. We examined the methane dynamics in 2 lakes with contrasting mixing regimes (polymictic and dimictic), while monitoring corresponding changes in chironomid larval d13C throughout an annual cycle. Both methane turnover rates and abundance of methane-oxidising bacteria were higher in the dimictic lake, where correspondingly lower mean larval d13C values of -44.2 to -61.7‰ were recorded. In contrast, potential methane production and oxidation rates, as well as cell numbers of methane-oxidising bacteria were always lower in the polymictic lake; corresponding larval d13C values ranged from -32.3 to -29.6‰. Furthermore, seasonal variation in larval d13C was more pronounced in the dimictic lake (-50.1 ± 5.9‰) compared to the polymictic lake (-31.1 ± 1.2‰), reflecting the amplitude of turnover rates. This suggests strongly that lake characteristics have an influence on methane turnover rates and, in conjunction with season, affect the subsequent incorporation of methane-derived carbon into freshwater food webs via macroinvertebrates.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=1712
Deines, P., Grey, J., Richnow, H.H., Eller, G. (2007):
Linking larval chironomids to methane: seasonal variation of the microbial methane cycle and chironomid δ13C
Aquat. Microb. Ecol. 46 (3), 273 - 282 10.3354/ame046273