Published

Sulfur in lucinid bivalves inhibits intake rates of a molluscivore shorebird Version 17

Tim Oortwijn (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research) Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research https://doi.org/10.25850/nioz/7b.b.8c

A forager’s energy intake rate is usually constrained by a combination of handling time, encounter rate and digestion rate. On top of that, food intake may be constrained when a forager can only process a maximum amount of certain toxic compounds. The latter constraint is well described for herbivores with a limited tolerance to plant secondary metabolites. In sulfidic marine ecosystems, many animals host chemoautotrophic endosymbionts, which store sulfur compounds as an energy resource, potentially making their hosts toxic to predators. The red knot Calidris canutus canutus is a molluscivore shorebird that winters on the mudflats of Banc d’Arguin, where the most abundant bivalve prey Loripes orbiculatus hosts sulfide-oxidizing bacteria. In this system, we studied the potential effect of sulfur on the red knots’ intake rates, by offering Loripes with various sulfur content to captive birds. To manipulate toxicity, we starved Loripes for 10 days by removing them from their symbiont’s energy source sulfide. As predicted, we found lower sulfur concentrations in starved Loripes. We also included natural variation in sulfur concentrations by offering Loripes collected at two different locations. In both cases lower sulfur levels in Loripes resulted in higher consumption rates in red knots. Over time the red knots increased their intake rates on Loripes, showing their ability to adjust to a higher intake of sulfur.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Subject Earth and Environmental Sciences
DAS Code 7b.b.8c
Source https://doi.org/10.25850/nioz/7b.b.8c
Version 17
Creator(s)
Oortwijn, Tim (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research)
ORCID
Contact the corresponding author

de Fouw, Jimmy (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research)
ORCID

Petersen, Jillian M. (Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna)
ORCID

van Gils, Jan (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research)
ORCID
Depositor Tim Oortwijn (tim.oortwijn@nioz.nl)
Publication Date 2022-04-29T12:37:46
Deposit Date 2022-04-26
Dataset Persistent Identifier DOI:10.25850/nioz/7b.b.8c
Alternate identifier
Related identifier https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-022-05170-3
Contributor Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ)
Distributor Research Data Management(NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research)
Distribution Date 2022-04-26
Production Date 2022-04-29
Dates
Funding References
NIOZ
Basic Funding

NWO (#ALWOP.203)

Vienna Science and Technology Fund
Vienna Research Group grant
Geographic Coverage