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Arctic food-web carbon is going isotopically light
Across 17 Arctic regions, water-column POC δ13C fell 0.149‰ per year—far faster than DIC/CO2 (0.011‰/yr)—and seal and whale tissues tracked the decline.
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How fast did combined-region POC-water δ13C decline?
0.149 ± 0.020‰ per year from 1986–2013, versus 0.011‰/yr for DIC and CO2.
Source: Temporal and spatial trends in marine carbon isotopes in the Arctic Ocean and implications for food web studies · DOI · quote verified
How does the observed Suess rate compare with models?
0.011‰/yr vs predicted 0.006–0.008‰/yr; ice loss may accelerate anthropogenic CO2 influence.
Source: Temporal and spatial trends in marine carbon isotopes in the Arctic Ocean and implications for food web studies · DOI · quote verified
How many marine Arctic regions were analyzed?
17, plus Siberian and North American river groups.
Source: Temporal and spatial trends in marine carbon isotopes in the Arctic Ocean and implications for food web studies · DOI · quote verified
Is ice-algal POC isotopically heavier than pelagic POC?
Generally yes (p < .005), e.g. 4.4‰ in the Barents Sea and 7.0‰ in the Canadian archipelago.
Source: Temporal and spatial trends in marine carbon isotopes in the Arctic Ocean and implications for food web studies · DOI · quote verified
Did shelves vs basins differ?
Shelf POC water was significantly 13C-enriched compared with basins and river POC.
Source: Temporal and spatial trends in marine carbon isotopes in the Arctic Ocean and implications for food web studies · DOI · quote verified
Did mammal tissues also go lighter?
Yes—teeth and baleen of seals, beluga, and bowhead whales declined with time.
Source: Temporal and spatial trends in marine carbon isotopes in the Arctic Ocean and implications for food web studies · DOI · quote verified
Did δ13C-DIC vary with latitude?
No; δ13C-CO2 and POC-water did deplete with latitude.
Source: Temporal and spatial trends in marine carbon isotopes in the Arctic Ocean and implications for food web studies · DOI · quote verified
What should food-web studies use as the baseline correction?
Temporal trends in δ13C-POC, not only DIC Suess corrections.
Source: Temporal and spatial trends in marine carbon isotopes in the Arctic Ocean and implications for food web studies · DOI · quote verified
Was the ice-POC time trend significant?
No—the temporal trend in δ13C-POC ice was not significant.
Source: Temporal and spatial trends in marine carbon isotopes in the Arctic Ocean and implications for food web studies · DOI · quote verified
Why might ice algae be 13C-enriched?
Carbon limitation around ice algae within sea ice.
Source: Temporal and spatial trends in marine carbon isotopes in the Arctic Ocean and implications for food web studies · DOI · quote verified