A1 Journal article (refereed)
The second life of terrestrial and plastic carbon as nutritionally valuable food for aquatic consumers (2023)

Taipale, S. J., Rigaud, C., Calderini, M. L., Kainz, M. J., Pilecky, M., Uusi‐Heikkilä, S., Vesamäki, J. S., Vuorio, K., & Tiirola, M. (2023). The second life of terrestrial and plastic carbon as nutritionally valuable food for aquatic consumers. Ecology Letters, 26(8), 1336-1347. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.14244

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Taipale, S. J.; Rigaud, C.; Calderini, M. L.; Kainz, M. J.; Pilecky, M.; Uusi‐Heikkilä, S.; Vesamäki, J. S.; Vuorio, K.; Tiirola, M.

Journal or series: Ecology Letters

ISSN: 1461-023X

eISSN: 1461-0248

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 22/05/2023

Volume: 26

Issue number: 8

Pages range: 1336-1347

Publisher: Wiley

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.14244

Research data link: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7856301

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/87579

Additional information: Phytoplankton data are available at open-access interfaces for environmental data at the Finnish Environmental Centre (www.syke.fi), and fatty acid and amino acid data are available in Zenodo (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7856301).

Abstract

Primary production is the basis for energy and biomolecule flow in food webs. Nutritional importance of terrestrial and plastic carbon via mixotrophic algae to upper trophic level is poorly studied. We explored this question by analysing the contribution of osmo- and phagomixotrophic species in boreal lakes and used 13C-labelled materials and compound-specific isotopes to determine biochemical fate of carbon backbone of leaves, lignin–hemicellulose and polystyrene at four-trophic level experiment. Microbes prepared similar amounts of amino acids from leaves and lignin, but four times more membrane lipids from lignin than leaves, and much less from polystyrene. Mixotrophic algae (Cryptomonas sp.) upgraded simple fatty acids to essential omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Labelled amino and fatty acids became integral parts of cell membranes of zooplankton (Daphnia magna) and fish (Danio rerio). These results show that terrestrial and plastic carbon can provide backbones for essential biomolecules of mixotrophic algae and consumers at higher trophic levels.

Keywords: carbon cycle; amino acids; fatty acids; aquatic ecosystems; plankton; microalgae; food webs; organic material; micro-litter; plastic

Free keywords: allochthonous carbon; amino acids; carbon cycle; fatty acids; food web; mixoplankton; plastic

Contributing organizations

Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2023

JUFO rating: 3