What Is the Relative Importance of Phytoplankton and Attached Macroalgae and Epiphytes to Food Webs on Offshore Oil Platforms

摘要: Abstract Offshore oil platforms function as artificial reefs, but little is known about the food webs that fuel platform-dwelling biota. Here, we use carbon and nitrogen isotopes in tissues of biota from two offshore to estimate importance phytoplankton platform-associated macroalgae epiphytic microalgae diets consumers. Although consumption was indicated for small, mobile consumers including crabs, amphipods, harpacticoid copepods, both a Bayesian mixing model temporal changes isotope composition identified most important basal resource these Sessile suspension-feeding barnacles oysters consumed epiphytes, probably redirected large amounts pelagic production other Secondary syllid polychaetes blennies, Molly Miller Scartella cristata Tessellated Blenny Hypsoblennius invemar, exhibited distinct contribution fr...