A synoptic view of the Antarctic Weddell Sea ecosystem trophic structure, Lecture.

The high Antarctic Weddell Sea is a taxonomically diverse ecosystem characterized by a multiplicity of lifestyle and feeding types. Stable nitrogen and carbon isotope analysis is one suitable tool to identify the trophic links between organisms and groups that constitute this complex food web. Previous studies in the Weddell Sea focussed on sub-systems, such as pelagic organisms (Rau et al. 1991), benthic invertebrates (Nyssen et al. 2002) and terrestrial predators (Rau et al. 1992). Our synoptic view is based on these studies and a further 1088 data on particulate organic matter (POM), invertebrates and vertebrates.