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MEPS 219:299-304 (2001)
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Abstract
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Effects of storage and preservation on the d13C and d15N signatures of selected marine organisms
S. Kaehler1,*, E. A. Pakhomov2,**
1Coastal Research Group, and
2Southern Ocean Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa
*E-mail: s.kaehler@ru.ac.za **Present address: Department of Zoology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa
ABSTRACT: The effects of freezing, oven-drying, and formalin and ethanol preservation on stable isotope signatures of 3 unrelated marine species (fish, octopus and kelp) were studied over a period of 3 mo to investigate temporal changes in d13C and d15N. The effects on stable isotope ratios during the short-term confinement of live littorinid snails were also examined. Freezing and oven-drying did not result in a
significant change in the initial isotope ratio for both carbon and nitrogen over the period of investigation. Formalin preservation significantly decreased, while ethanol preservation significantly increased d13C
values by ~0.6 to 1.5% after 1 to 12 wk in both the animals and the kelp. The d15N signatures tended to increase slightly, but not significantly, during both formalin and ethanol preservation. Data from this and
previous studies suggest that preserved samples should not be used for d13C analysis as the effects of preservatives on carbon isotope signatures vary greatly between species and studies. In contrast, the effect of
preservatives on d15N signatures was comparatively small, which may facilitate the use of preserved samples in studies of stable nitrogen isotopes. Animal confinement had an almost immediate effect on stable isotope
signatures of littorinids. d13C exhibited a significant increase after 6 h and d15N became significantly depleted after 12 h of confinement. The results of this study suggest that
the methods used for preserving samples for stable isotope analysis should be carefully chosen. Samples intended for isotope analysis should be frozen, freeze-dried or oven-dried, preservatives may be used only for
d15N analysis and organisms should be sacrificed immediately after collection.
KEY WORDS: Stable isotopes · Preservation · Storage · Fish · Octopus · Kelp · Littorinid
Full text in pdf format
Published in MEPS Vol.
219
(2001) on September 10
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2001
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