Trophic Enrichment Factors of Carbon and Nitrogen Isotopic Ratios (Δ(13)C and Δ(15)N) in Four Marine Ciliates

Understanding the magnitude and causes of isotopic fractionation between organisms and their dietary resources is crucial for gaining knowledge on stable isotope ecology. However, little is known regarding the diet-tissue fractionation values of marine ciliates, which play a critical role in the reconstruction of microbial food webs. In the present study, we conducted experiments on two benthic (Pseudokeronopsis pararubra and Protocruzia labiata) and two pelagic (Strombidium sulcatum and Uronemella filificum) marine ciliates, where they were fed with isotopically constant foods (Chaetoceros calcitrans and Isochrysis galbana) under laboratory culture conditions to determine their carbon and nitrogen isotopic fractionation values (Δ(13)C and Δ(15)N). The stable isotope values (δ(13)C and δ(15)N) of ciliates for all experiments rapidly increased after the initial feeding, with half-lives ranging from 6.1 to 23.0h for δ(13)C and from 3.1 to 24.9h for δ(15)N. The Δ(13)C and Δ(15)N for all ciliates represented significantly positive enrichments, with overall mean fractionations of 0.6±0.2 and 1.2±0.4, respectively. Irrespective of the dietary type, both Δ(13)C and Δ(15)N were very similar for the same ciliate species. These results suggest that Δ(13)C and Δ(15)N for marine ciliates are similar to those found in common marine organisms with very little food-dependent variation. Overall, quantifying the specific isotopic fractionation of marine ciliates is expected to provide fundamental information on the trophic transfer of carbon, nitrogen, and energy flow through the microbial pathway in marine ecosystems.