A quantitative analysis of organic matter inputs to soft sediment communities surrounding salmon farms in the Marlborough Sounds region of New Zealand

• Key fatty acids and bulk stable isotopes discriminated farm and marine production.
• Soft sediment communities assimilated aquaculture-derived organic matter.
• Trophic level of soft sediment taxa decreased with increasing proximity to farms.
• Total basal organic matter assimilated decreased with increasing proximity to farms.
• Assimilation of farm-derived organic matter peaked in outer limit of effects zone.

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