The spatial and seasonal variations in resource use of the lacustrine shrimp Palaemon paucidens were investigated in three different Korean lagoon systems in June and October 2018 by measuring their carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios. P. paucidens had much higher δ13C values at the permanently open lagoon (PL) as compared to the intermittently open lagoons (ILs), revealing a disparity in resource utilization. Isotopic niches of the shrimp were relatively wider at the PL than at the ILs, suggesting a greater diversity of carbon pathways in the PL system. These results indicate that the degree of water exchange with the sea, associated with lagoon geomorphology, may be a major factor influencing resource availability for P. paucidens. Our findings suggest that the duration and degree of inlet opening may affect dietary variation at the population level, and may be one of the key components of sustainable management for coastal lagoon ecosystems.
Keywords: Coastal lagoon; Isotopic niche; Palaemon paucidens; Permanently/intermittently open system; Stable isotopes.
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