UTILIZATION OF DUAL STABLE ISOTOPES TO DETERMINE TROPHIC STRUCTURE IN A MANGROVE-INTERTIDAL MUDFLAT OF JOHOR STRAIT, MALAYSIASyaizwan Zahmir Zulkifli, Munirah Hanapiah, Amirul Azuan Md Joni Aqilah MukhtarAbstract The coastal environment of the Johor Strait is gradually being altered, thus degrading the ecosystems health. The present study was conducted to determine the food web in mangrove-mudflat ecosystem in vicinity to Sungai Pulai estuary as revealed by stable isotope analysis. A wide range of biota and sediments were collected and analyzed for δ13C and δ15N isotopic ratios. Results showed δ13C and δ15N values were ranged between -14 to -31 and 2.5 to 17.5, respectively. These data revealed that there are four trophic levels (primary producers up to tertiary consumers) that exist within the mangrove-mudflat ecosystem. Hence, a stable isotope analysis could be used to verify trophic structure in tropical mangrove ecosystem.
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