基于碳、氮稳定同位素技术的东太湖水生食物网结构

稳定同位素技术是研究生态系统食物网中物质循环与能量流动的有效技术之一。碳稳定同位素比值(δ13C)常用来分析消费者食物来源,而氮稳定同位素比值(δ15N)常用来确定生物在食物网中的营养位置。本研究应用碳、氮稳定同位素技术构建了东太湖食物网结构。结果表明:东太湖食物网主要由两条营养传递途径组成,即浮游植物为初级生产者的浮游营养传递途径和苦草等大型水生植物为初级生产者的近岸底层营养传递途径,湖中9种主要鱼虾类能量主要来自近岸底层传递;翘嘴鲌(Erythroculter ilishaeformis)、鳜(Siniperca chuatsi)和鲶(Silurus sp.)作为湖泊中的顶极捕食者,具有相对最高的营养级,并占据食物网的顶层。     

应用碳、氮稳定同位素研究稻田多个物种共存的食物网结构和营养级关系

稳定碳、氮同位素比值分析技术是研究生态系统中物质循环与能量流动的有效技术。δ13C值常用来分析消费者食物来源,δ15N值常用来确定生物在食物网中的营养位置。应用稳定同位素技术分析了稻-鱼(R-F)和稻-鱼-鸭(R-F-D)两种稻作方式下,稻田多个物种共存的食物网结构和营养级关系。结果表明,R-F中SOM的δ13C值为(-27.7±0.3)‰,与R-F-D(-27.4±0.4)‰,相差不大;R-F中POM的1δ3C值为(-27.4±0.8)‰,低于稻鱼鸭共生田(-26.7±0.5)‰;δ15N值计算发现R-F内浮游动物的营养级位置在2.24±0.16,鱼的营养级位置在3.07±0.26,均高于其在R-F-D内的营养级。在R-F-D内,由于鸭的引入,和R-F相比,鱼的营养级降低为2.63±0.13。     

应用稳定同位素技术构建胶州湾食物网的连续营养谱

根据2011年春季和秋季在胶州湾进行的渔业资源综合调查,应用稳定同位素示踪技术,分析了胶州湾主要渔业生物的碳、氮稳定同位素比值(δ13C,δ15N),并计算其营养级,进而构建胶州湾食物网的连续营养谱。分析的生物种类包括浮游植物、浮游动物、大型无脊椎动物和鱼类,其生物量之和占总渔获量的95%。结果表明,胶州湾食物网的δ13C值范围是-25.63‰—-17.16‰,跨度为8.47‰,平均值为(-19.42±1.80)‰;δ15N值范围是4.15‰—14.11‰,跨度为9.96‰,平均值为(11.98±1.77)‰。胶州湾食物网中的主要生物种类可以划分为4个营养组群,即初级生产者、初级消费者、次级消费者以及顶级捕食者。δ15N值分析显示,胶州湾主要生物种类的营养级范围是1.10—4.03。与文献中基于胃含物分析计算的营养级相比较,37个种类中有29种的营养级分析结果基本一致(在0.5个营养级的误差范围之内)。因此,氮稳定同位素法是一种研究水生生态系统食物网营养位置的有效方法。其中,有8种鱼类的营养级与历史文献相比有所下降,分析方法的不同可能是原因之一,此外,这些鱼种摄食饵料生物营养级的下降也是导致其营养级降低的另一个主要原因。根据营养级计算的结果,构建了胶州湾食物网的连续营养谱,胶州湾食物网中,绝大多数生物种类都属于初级和中级肉食性种类。     

应用碳、氮稳定同位素研究鄱阳湖枯水末期水生食物网结构

稳定碳、氮同位素比值分析技术是研究生态系统中物质循环与能量流动的有效技术.δ13C值常用来分析消费者食物来源,δ15N值常用来确定生物在食物网中的营养位置.应用稳定同位素技术分析了鄱阳湖北部湖口县、都昌县、星子县、吴城镇4个采样点95条鱼和其他食物网成分样品的碳、氮稳定同位素比值,构建了鄱阳湖枯水期末期水生食物网.结果表明,不同水域颗粒有机物(POM)的δ13C值不同,范围为-27.5‰～-24.6‰可以区分赣江、修水、鄱阳湖、长江和鄱阳湖湖交汇处水体的颗粒有机物特征.江西鄱阳湖国家级自然保护区受人类活动干扰少,核心区生物δ15N相对较低,而周边人类活动频繁的星子、都昌两县附近水域生物体内的δ15N偏高,反映了人类活动引起的营养输入对系统的影响.在湖区不同位置捕获的相同品种水生生物δ13C值不同,反映了其不同的食物来源,用δ15N值计算发现其所占据的相对营养位置较为一致.     

应用稳定同位素测定贵州凤冈麻湾洞洞穴陆生动物的食物来源及营养级

以贵州凤冈麻湾洞洞穴生态系统为研究对象,运用δ~(13)C、δ~(15)N测定了洞穴动物及其有机碳源的同位素比值,分析了洞穴生态系统的营养级关系及洞穴动物食源。结果表明:洞内植物δ~(13)C范围为-41. 78‰～-38. 80‰,较洞外植物低;δ~(15)N范围为-1. 31‰～1.23‰,在洞外陆源有机质δ~(15)N范围内;洞穴土壤有机质的δ~(13)C范围为-31. 09‰～-24.95‰,δ~(15)N范围为-1.08‰～7.72‰;洞穴动物δ~(13)C范围为-30.41‰～-12.02‰,δ~(15)N范围为2.07‰～8.94‰;洞穴土壤有机质对动物的食源贡献率超过72%,远高于植物对动物的食源贡献率,即洞穴土壤有机质是洞穴动物的主要食物来源。麻湾洞生态系统主要由4个营养层次组成:植物为第一营养层次;闪夜蛾、螺类、马陆类处于第二营养层次;裸灶螽、长头地蜈蚣处于第三营养层次;蜘蛛类处于第三或第四营养层次。即大部分同种(或同类群)动物在洞穴中所处的营养级位置相对稳定,少部分同种动物在不同光带或同种类群的不同种动物在同一光带所处的营养级位置有差异。     

应用碳氮稳定同位素研究贵州织金洞动物食物来源与营养级

应用碳氮稳定同位素分析织金洞有光带动物及其有机碳源的碳、氮稳定同位素比值,探讨有机碳源对洞穴动物的贡献率和洞穴动物的营养级。结果表明:植物δ~(13)C变化范围为(-43.46±0.06)‰~(-37.54±0.03)‰、δ~(15)N为(0.71±0.01)‰~(2.38±0.00)‰,土壤有机质δ~(13)C均值为(-24.99±0.01)‰,不在植物δ~(13)C的变化区间,说明该洞植被对土壤有机质(SOM)的贡献较小,δ~(15)N为(3.93±0.03)‰,较洞外土壤有机质δ~(15)N低;Iso Source软件计算6种有机碳源对洞穴动物的食源贡献率得出,土壤有机质对洞穴动物(除大蚊Tipula sp.和闪夜蛾Sypna sp.外)的食源贡献率均超过60%,高于植物,说明土壤有机质是洞穴生态系统的主要食源;根据营养级的计算公式得出,该生态系统由3个营养级构成;土壤有机质为第一营养级,裸灶螽(Diestrammena sp.)、粗糙鼠妇(Pocellio scaber)、角囊马陆(Camberlinius sp.)、平顶巴蜗牛(Bradybaena strictotaenia)、长踦盲蛛(Phalangiidae sp.)、栅蛛(Hahnia sp.)等为第二营养级,果蝇(Drosophila sp.)、上野行步甲(Uenotrechus sp.)、大部分蜘蛛类群为第三营养级。     

基于δ~(15)N稳定同位素分析的人工防护林大型土壤动物营养级研究

稳定同位素δ15N是分析生态系统中的营养关系的重要方法。本研究采用该方法分析了人工防护林土壤动物的营养级及它们之间的营养关系。对3个地区人工杨树林12类大型土壤动物及其土壤、细根及植物枯落叶的稳定同位素δ15N分析结果显示,不同环境条件下土壤动物δ15N具有显著差异性(F=38.067,P0.001),土壤动物δ15N值与土壤、植物细根及枯落叶δ15N值之间有明显的相关性,与全氮含量没有明显的相关性;根据不同土壤动物δ15N值的状况,12种土壤动物在土壤生态系统中大都处于第二至第四营养级,处于较低营养级位置的动物主要有大蚊幼虫(Tipulidae larvae)、蚯蚓(Lumbricidae)、金龟甲幼虫(Scarabaeidae larvae)等类群,较高营养级的为蜈蚣(Scolopendromorpha)、隐翅甲成虫(Staphylinidae adult)、叩甲成虫(Elateridae adult)、线蚓(Enchytraeidae)等动物,同类土壤动物在不同样地中营养级位置存在一定的差异。     

基于稳定同位素的湿地食物源判定和食物网构建研究进展

湿地生物营养动力学是湿地生态系统结构和功能评价研究的基础.碳、氮稳定同位素作为识别营养关系的方法,已在湿地生态系统食物来源、组成和食物链传递研究中得到广泛运用.本文系统综述了稳定同位素食物贡献度计算模型和营养级确定的基本方法和理论;讨论了动物营养分馏值和基线的选择依据;概括了湿地生态系统典型食物源及其稳定同位素变化特征;总结了草食、杂食和肉食等不同营养级动物的食物来源.指出了稳定同位素在湿地食物源溯源和食物网研究中的不足;基于国内外研究现状和发展趋势及需求,展望了未来同位素技术在湿地食物网生态学研究中的运用前景和研究重点,提出需要加强稳定同位素营养分馏和基线的影响因素、样品处理和保存方式研究以及胃含物、分子标记物和多元素同位素结合分析.     

冶金区节肢动物碳、氮稳定同位素组成及营养级关系

通过测定辽宁省葫芦岛锌厂不同生境植物和主要消费者的碳、氮稳定同位素比值,研究冶金区不同消费者碳、氮稳定同位素组成及不同消费者之间的关系.结果表明:节肢动物δ13C、δ15N值的变化范围分别为-12.61‰～-29.63‰、1.73‰～9.94‰,变化幅度较大.研究区植物以C3植物居多,导致不同群落生境动物δ13C值较低;螳螂、蜘蛛δ15N比值高于其他动物;通过营养级模型计算可知不同消费者之间的关系,蝗虫、蚱蜢等草食性动物形成第二营养级,即初级消费者;第三营养级包括蜘蛛、螳螂,为次级消费者.     

枸杞岛近岸海域食物网的稳定同位素分析

为了探明岛礁近岸海域食物网主要生物类群之间的营养关系,对2012年11月和2013年2月枸杞岛近岸的消费者及其潜在食物源的稳定碳、氮同位素组成进行了分析,并利用氮稳定同位素数据计算了消费者的营养级。结果表明:枸杞岛近岸海域消费者潜在食源浮游植物、POM、SOM和大型海藻的δ13C值范围为-21.7‰~-14.7‰,浮游动物、大型无脊椎动物和鱼类等消费者的δ13C值范围为-21.1‰~-13.7‰。初级生产者的C/N平均值为8.5,消费者的C/N平均值3.7,差异极显著(P0.001)。根据消费者的δ15N值,可将枸杞岛近岸海域的消费者分为滤食性浮游动物、食藻或碎屑的小型底栖动物、杂食性的大型无脊椎动物和鱼类以及凶猛的肉食性鱼类4大类,消费者共有4个营养等级,黑鲷的营养级最高为4.33。     

Linking aboveground and belowground food webs through carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) have been used for more than two decades in analyses of food web structure. The utility of isotope ratio measurements is based on the observation that consumer δ¹³C values are similar (<1‰ difference) to those of their diet, while consumer δ¹⁵N values are about 3‰ higher than those of their diet. The technique has been applied most often to aquatic and aboveground terrestrial food webs. However, few isotope studies have examined terrestrial food web structure that includes both above- and belowground (detrital) components. Here, we review factors that may influence isotopic signatures of terrestrial consumers in above- and belowground systems. In particular, we emphasize variations in δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N in belowground systems, e.g., enrichment of ¹³C and ¹⁵N in soil organic matter (likely related to soil microbial metabolism). These enrichments should be associated with the high ¹³C (~3‰) enrichment in belowground consumers relative to litter and soil organic matter and with the large variation in δ¹⁵N (~6‰) of the consumers. Because such enrichment and variation are much greater than the trophic enrichment generally used to estimate consumer trophic positions, and because many general predators are considered dependent on energy and material flows from belowground, the isotopic variation in belowground systems should be taken into account in δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N analyses of terrestrial food webs. Meanwhile, by measuring the δ¹³C of key predators, the linkage between above- and belowground systems could be estimated based on observed differences in δ¹³C of primary producers, detritivores and predators. Furthermore, radiocarbon (¹⁴C) measurements will allow the direct estimation of the dependence of predators on the belowground systems.     

流溪河水库颗粒有机物及浮游动物碳、氮稳定同位素特征

为了解影响流溪河水库颗粒有机物(POM)碳和氮稳定同位素(δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N)变化的主要因素,及其与浮游动物δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N之间的关系,于2008年5月至12月份对POM及浮游动物的δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N进行了研究。颗粒有机物碳稳定同位素(δ¹³C_POM)和氮稳定同位素(δ¹⁵N_POM)的季节性变化幅度分别为5.1‰和2.2‰,5月和7月份δ¹³C_POM较高,而在10月和12月份降低,这主要与降雨将大量外源有机物带入水库而引起的外源及内源有机物在POM组成上发生变化有关。δ¹⁵N_POM总体呈上升趋势,可能是由降雨引起的外源负荷、初级生产力、生物固氮等因素共同作用的结果。浮游动物的δ¹³C及δ¹⁵N总的变化趋势与POM的相似,也具有明显的季节性变化,食物来源的季节变化可能是造成其变化的主要原因。在5月份,浮游动物的食物来源为POM中δ¹³C较高的部分,也就是外源有机物,而在10月及12月份,其食物则可能主要为浮游植物。     

Use of stable isotopes to understand food webs in Macao wetlands

In this study, components of the food-web in Macao wetlands were quantified using stable isotope ratio techniques based on carbon and nitrogen values. The δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of particulate organic matter (δ¹³C_POM and δ¹⁵N_POM, respectively) ranged from ?30.64 ± 1.0 to ?28.1 ± 0.7 ‰, and from ?1.11 ± 0.8 to 3.98 ± 0.7 ‰, respectively. The δ¹³C values of consumer species ranged from ?33.94 to ?16.92 ‰, showing a wide range from lower values in a freshwater lake and inner bay to higher values in a mangrove forest. The distinct dietary habits of consumer species and the location-specific food source composition were the main factors affecting the δ¹³C values. The consumer ¹⁵N-isotope enrichment values suggested that there were three trophic levels; primary, secondary, and tertiary. The primary consumer trophic level was represented by freshwater herbivorous gastropods, filter-feeding bivalves, and plankton-feeding fish, with a mean δ¹⁵N value of 5.052 ‰. The secondary consumer level included four deposit-feeding fish species distributed in Fai Chi Kei Bay and deposit-feeding gastropods in the Lotus Flower Bridge flat, with a mean δ¹⁵N value of 6.794 ‰. The tertiary consumers group consisted of four crab species, one shrimp species, and four fish species in the Lotus Flower Bridge Flat, with a mean δ¹⁵N value of 13.473 ‰. Their diet mainly comprised organic debris, bottom fauna, and rotten animal tissues. This study confirms the applicability of the isotopic approach in food web studies.     

克氏原螯虾两种养殖模式的食物网结构及其食性比较

为比较克氏原螯虾(Procambarus clarkii)精养模式和稻虾共作模式下的食物网结构及其食性差异, 对两种养殖模式的基础食源与消费者的δ13C和δ15N进行了分析, 并借助SIBER考察了各自的食物网结构, 定量计算不同饵料对克氏原螯虾食物的贡献率。结果显示: 在采集的19种样品中, 消费者的δ13C值介于–34.22‰—–25.34‰, δ15N值介于2.33‰—8.05‰, 营养级介于1.46—3.64; 在精养模式下克氏原螯虾的营养级(2.34)高于共作模式(1.79)。食物网结构参数对比表明, 两种模式下克氏原螯虾的生态空间利用率接近, 但共作模式的食物网营养结构多样性较高, 群落的营养生态位范围较宽, 食物网的营养冗余程度较低, 不同物种竞争激烈程度较低; 食性分析显示, 在两种模式下克氏原螯虾的δ15N值与其体长、体重具有线性正相关关系, 说明克氏原螯虾营养级随着其体型增大而提高, 另外克氏原螯虾在两种养殖模式中均偏向于摄食动物性饵料, 共作模式中克氏原螯虾饵料来源分布较精养模式更均匀, 其植物性饵料贡献率较精养模式更高。研究表明: 精养模式的物质能量从基础食源传至克氏原螯虾的传递损耗较共作模式要高; 与精养模式相比, 稻虾共作模式中克氏原螯虾更偏向植食性。     

Use of a δ13C–δ15N relationship to determine animal trophic positions in a tropical Australian estuarine wetland

Stable isotope composition of organisms from different trophic groups collected from a semi‐isolated wetland pool in the Ross River estuary, northern Australia, was analysed to determine if there was a consistent relationship between δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and trophic level that could be used to assign trophic positions. A strong linear negative relationship between δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N was detected for the three trophic levels considered (primary producers, primary consumers and secondary consumers). This relationship was consistent among trophic levels, differing only in height, that is, on δ¹⁵N values, which indicate trophic positions. A difference of 3.6–3.8‰ between trophic levels was present, suggesting a δ¹⁵N fractionation of approximately 3.7‰, a value slightly higher than the commonly assumed δ¹⁵N fractionation of approximately 3.4‰. The relationship between δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N was similar for invertebrate and fish primary consumers, indicating similar δ¹⁵N trophic fractionation for both groups, meaning trophic positions and trophic length could be reliably calculated based on either invertebrates or fish.     

海北高寒草甸土壤有机碳同位素组成及C3/C4碳源的变化

通过对高寒嵩草草甸土壤剖面不同深度(0～5cm,5～15cm,15～25cm,25～35cm,35～50cm,50～65cm)有机碳稳定性碳同位素的测定发现,土壤有机碳稳定性同位素(δ^13C)随土壤深度的增加而变大。表层土壤(0～5cm,定义为现代土壤)的δ^13C值最小,基本上接近现代植被的碳同位素特征。在土层5～10cm深度以下(粗略地定为古土壤),土壤有机碳稳定性同位素骤然上升,与表层土壤的同位素特征明显不同。考虑到影响土壤碳同位素的诸多因素,通过稳定性碳同位素的质量平衡模型计算,得出初步结果：来自C4(或CAM)植物的碳源随土壤深度的增加而增大。进一步推测,该地区植被可能经历由C4植物占优势的群落向C3植物占优势的群溶演化的过程。在这个过程中,大气碳同位素的变化和土壤有机质的形成过程(有机质淋溶过程)等也会引起土壤碳同位素的升高,因此质量平衡模型可能会过多地估算C4组分,而低估C3组分。     

基于稳定同位素技术的海州湾海洋牧场食物网基础及营养结构的季节性变化

基于稳定同位素技术对2015年春季海州湾海洋牧场海域采集的中小型生物消费者,包括鱼类、虾类、蟹类、头足类、螺类和双壳类等与其潜在碳源样品进行分析,利用IsoSource模型计算该海域消费者碳源贡献率,并对2014年夏季生物学样品与2015年春季样品比较,分析食物网营养结构的季节性变化,根据稳定同位素测定结果绘制二维双标图,计算出6种营养结构的量化指标.结果表明: 2015年春季海州湾海洋牧场海域消费者的δ¹³C值范围为-18.9‰～-17.1‰,3种潜在碳源[浮游植物、悬浮颗粒有机物(POM)、沉积物(SOM)]的δ¹³C值范围为-18.1‰～-23.4‰,根据模型计算得出浮游植物对消费者的平均碳源贡献最大,为80.8%,其余依次为SOM和POM,分别为10.8%和8.4%.2014年夏季生物样品与2015年春季样品的δ¹³C值存在显著差异,而δ¹⁵N值无显著性差异;6种量化指标表明群落营养结构存在季节性差异, 2014年夏季的δ¹³C比值范围(CR)、总面积(TA)、平均最邻近距离(NND)和平均最邻近距离标准差(SDNND)均大于2015年春季,δ¹⁵N比值范围(NR)和平均离心距离(CD)无明显变化,夏季群落营养结构冗余度小于春季,且食源多样性水平高于春季,存在季节差异.     

Use of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in insect trophic ecology

Insects are the most diverse organisms and often the most abundant animals in some ecosystems. Despite the importance of their functional roles and of the knowledge for conservation, the trophic ecology of many insect species is not fully understood. In this review, I present how stable carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) isotopes have been used to reveal the trophic ecology of insects over the last 30 years. The isotopic studies on insects have used differences in C isotope ratios between C₃ and C₄ plants, along vertical profiles of temperate and tropical forest stands, and between terrestrial and aquatic resources. These differences enable exploration of the relative importance of the food resources, as well as movement and dispersal of insects across habitats. The ¹³C‐enrichment (approximately 3‰) caused by saprotrophic fungi can allow the estimation of the importance of fungi in insect diets. Stable N isotopes have revealed food resource partitioning across diverse insect species above and belowground. Detritivorous insects often show a large trophic enrichment in ¹³C (up to 3‰) and ¹⁵N (up to 10‰) relative to the food substrates, soil organic matter. These values are greater than those commonly used for estimation of trophic level. This enrichment likely reflects the prevalence of soil microbial processes, such as fungal development and humification, influencing the isotopic signatures of diets in detritivores. Isotope analysis can become an essential tool in the exploration of insect trophic ecology in terms of biogeochemical C and N cycles, including trophic interactions, plant physiological and soil microbial processes.     

人为营养物质输入对汉丰湖不同营养级生物的影响--稳定C、N同位素分析

以长江一级支流小江上游的汉丰湖为研究对象,设置了4个采样点(影响组:A, B;对照组:C, D),应用碳、氮稳定性同位素探讨人类生活污水和农业面源污染对汉丰湖水生生态系统中不同营养级水平生物类群的影响。结果表明:影响组POM(颗粒有机物)和螺类碳、氮稳定性同位素比值范围分别为-25.93‰--24.63‰、4.12‰-9.86‰,-14.28‰--21.60‰、7.97‰-19.99‰;对照组POM(颗粒有机物)和螺类碳、氮稳定性同位素比值范围分别为-25.62‰--22.51‰、0.01‰-6.56‰,-22.96‰--19.21‰、6.75‰-8.89‰;不同组间POM和初级消费者螺类碳同位素比值无明显空间变化(P>0.05), 而氮稳定性同位素比值空间变化显著(P<0.05)。因此,在汉丰湖食物网中,氮稳定性同位素特征更好地反应了营养物质(人为输入)吸收和富集的信息。与固着藻类、鱼类等相比,POM和软体动物螺类更适合作为环境评价的指示物。影响组A、B样点的部分生物类群已经受到了人为营养物质输入的影响,影响强度B样点区域>A样点区域。结果建议加强汉丰湖水环境保护,控制污水排放量及提高污水处理水平,对于保护小江和三峡库区水质具有十分重要的意义。     

Parasites and stable isotopes: a comparative analysis of isotopic discrimination in parasitic trophic interactions

Stable isotopes are widely used to identify trophic interactions and to determine trophic positions of organisms in food webs. Comparative studies have provided general insights into the variation in isotopic composition between consumers and their diet (discrimination factors) in predator–prey and herbivore–plant relationships while other major components of food webs such as host–parasite interactions have been largely overlooked. In this study, we conducted a literature‐based comparative analysis using phylogenetically‐controlled mixed effects models, accounting for both parasite and host phylogenies, to investigate patterns and potential drivers in Δ¹³C and Δ¹⁵N discrimination factors in metazoan parasitic trophic interactions. Our analysis of 101 parasite–host pairs revealed a large range in Δ¹³C (–8.2 to 6.5) and Δ¹⁵N (–6.7 to 9.0) among parasite species, with no significant overall depletion or enrichment of ¹³C and ¹⁵N in parasites. As previously found in other trophic interactions, we identified a scaling relationship between the host isotopic value and both discrimination factors with Δ¹³C and Δ¹⁵N decreasing with increasing host δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N, respectively. Furthermore, parasite phylogenetic history explained a large fraction (>60%) of the observed variation in the Δ¹⁵N discrimination factor. Our findings suggest that the traditional isotope ecology framework (using an average Δ¹⁵N of 3.4‰) applies poorly to parasitic trophic interactions. They further indicate the need for a scaled rather than a fixed trophic discrimination factor framework along gradients of host δ¹⁵N. We also identified several conceptual and methodological issues which should to be considered in future research to help integrate parasitic interactions into a holistic isotope ecology framework across diverse trophic interactions.