Trophic Interaction in a Portunus rituberculatus Polyculture Ecosystem Based on Carbon and Nitrogen Stable Isotope Analysis

Trophic interaction among various biomass groups in a swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus polyculture pond was investigated using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis. The polycultured animal species also included white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, short-necked clam Ruditapes philippinarum, and redlip mullet Liza haematochila. The mean δ13C value for all the biomass groups in polyculture ecosystem ranged from −25.61‰ to −16.60‰, and the mean δ15N value ranged from 6.80‰ to 13.09‰. Significant difference in the δ13C value was found between particulate organic matter (POM) and sediment organic matter (SOM) (P < 0.05), indicating that these two organic matter pools have different material sources. Assuming that a 13C-enrichment factor of 1.00‰ and a 15N-enrichment factor of 2.70‰ existed between consumer and prey, diets of the four cultured animals were estimated using a stable isotope mixing model. The estimated model results indicated that P. trituberculatus mainly feed on Aloidis laevis; L. vannamei mainly feed on shrimp feed; while A. laevis, R. philippinarum and L. haematochelia mainly feed on POM. Shrimp feed was also an important food source of R. philippinarum and L. haematochelia. The diets of P. trituberculatus, L. vannamei, R. philippinarum, and L. haematochila showed complementary effects in this polyculture ecosystem. Our finding indicated that the polyculture of these four organisms with suitable farming density could make an effective use of most of the food sources, which can make a highly efficient polyculture ecosystem.