Stable-isotope analysis: a neglected tool for placing parasites in food webs

2018 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.J.M. Sabadel ◽  
A.D. Stumbo ◽  
C.D. MacLeod
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Food Webs ◽  
Stable Isotope Analysis ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Isotope Studies ◽  
Food Web Theory ◽  
Ubiquitous Presence ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractParasites are often overlooked in the construction of food webs, despite their ubiquitous presence in almost every type of ecosystem. Researchers who do recognize their importance often struggle to include parasites using classical food-web theory, mainly due to the parasites' multiple hosts and life stages. A novel approach using compound-specific stable-isotope analysis promises to provide considerable insight into the energetic exchanges of parasite and host, which may solve some of the issues inherent in incorporating parasites using a classical approach. Understanding the role of parasites within food webs, and tracing the associated biomass transfers, are crucial to constructing new models that will expand our knowledge of food webs. This mini-review focuses on stable-isotope studies published in the past decade, and introduces compound-specific stable-isotope analysis as a powerful, but underutilized, newly developed tool that may answer many unresolved questions regarding the role of parasites in food webs.

The role of alien fish (the centrarchid Micropterus salmoides) in lake food webs highlighted by stable isotope analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (9) ◽  
pp. 1130-1142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Letizia Costantini ◽  
Pasquale Carlino ◽  
Edoardo Calizza ◽  
Giulio Careddu ◽  
Davide Cicala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Food Webs ◽  
Stable Isotope Analysis ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Alien Fish

Current methods and future directions in avian diet analysis

The Auk ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon D Hoenig ◽  
Allison M Snider ◽  
Anna M Forsman ◽  
Keith A Hobson ◽  
Steven C Latta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Food Webs ◽  
Stable Isotope Analysis ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Diet Analysis ◽  
Unified Framework ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Laboratory Techniques ◽  
Prey Identification

Abstract Identifying the composition of avian diets is a critical step in characterizing the roles of birds within ecosystems. However, because birds are a diverse taxonomic group with equally diverse dietary habits, gaining an accurate and thorough understanding of avian diet can be difficult. In addition to overcoming the inherent difficulties of studying birds, the field is advancing rapidly, and researchers are challenged with a myriad of methods to study avian diet, a task that has only become more difficult with the introduction of laboratory techniques to dietary studies. Because methodology drives inference, it is important that researchers are aware of the capabilities and limitations of each method to ensure the results of their study are interpreted correctly. However, few reviews exist which detail each of the traditional and laboratory techniques used in dietary studies, with even fewer framing these methods through a bird-specific lens. Here, we discuss the strengths and limitations of morphological prey identification, DNA-based techniques, stable isotope analysis, and the tracing of dietary biomolecules throughout food webs. We identify areas of improvement for each method, provide instances in which the combination of techniques can yield the most comprehensive findings, introduce potential avenues for combining results from each technique within a unified framework, and present recommendations for the future focus of avian dietary research.

Stable isotope analysis of food webs in wetland areas of Lake Balaton, Hungary abb;5

1999 ◽  
Vol 146 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
István Tátrai ◽  
Kálmán Mátyás ◽  
János Korponai ◽  
Gábor Paulovits ◽  
Piroska Pomogyi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Food Webs ◽  
Stable Isotope Analysis ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Lake Balaton

scholarly journals Different transfer pathways of an organochlorine pesticide across marine tropical food webs assessed with stable isotope analysis

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. e0191335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte R. Dromard ◽  
Yolande Bouchon-Navaro ◽  
Sébastien Cordonnier ◽  
Mathilde Guéné ◽  
Mireille Harmelin-Vivien ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Food Webs ◽  
Organochlorine Pesticide ◽  
Stable Isotope Analysis ◽  
Isotope Analysis

Effects of terrestrial input on macrobenthic food webs of coastal sea are detected by stable isotope analysis in Gaeta Gulf

2015 ◽  
Vol 154 ◽  
pp. 158-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulio Careddu ◽  
Maria Letizia Costantini ◽  
Edoardo Calizza ◽  
Pasquale Carlino ◽  
Flavia Bentivoglio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Food Webs ◽  
Stable Isotope Analysis ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Coastal Sea ◽  
Terrestrial Input

scholarly journals Estimation of nutrient contributions from the ocean across a river basin using stable isotope analysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 5535-5557
Author(s):  
K. Nakayama ◽  
Y. Maruya ◽  
K. Matsumoto ◽  
M. Komata ◽  
K. Komai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Stable Isotope Analysis ◽  
Chum Salmon ◽  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽  
River Ecosystem ◽  
River Channels

Abstract. Since marine derived nutrients (MDN) are transported not only in river channels but also across the entire river basin, including via ground water and migratory animals, it is necessary to investigate the contribution of MDN to the forest floor (soils) in order to quantify the true role of MDN at the river ecosystem scale. This study investigated the contribution of pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and chum salmon (O. keta) to total oceanic nitrogen (TN) input across a river basin using stable isotope analysis (SIA) of nitrogen (δ15N). The contribution of TN entering the river basin by salmon was 23.8 % relative to the total amount of TN exported from the river basin, providing a first estimate of MDN export for a river basin. The contribution of nitrogen from the ocean to the river basin soils was between 22.9 and 23.8 %. Furthermore, SIA showed that the transport of oceanic TN by sea eagles (Haliaeetus spp.) was greater than that by bears (Ursus arctos), which had previously been that bears are thought to be the major animal transporter of nutrients in the northern part of Japan.

scholarly journals Preservation in 70% ethanol solution does not affect δ13C and δ15N values of reindeer blood samples – relevance for stable isotope studies of diet

Rangifer ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duncan J. Halley ◽  
Masao Minagawa ◽  
Mauri Nieminen ◽  
Eldar Gaare
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Stable Isotope Analysis ◽  
Efficient Method ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Ethanol Solution ◽  
Δ13c And Δ15n ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Isotope Studies ◽  
Whole Blood Samples ◽  
Chloroform Methanol

We compared duplicate samples of whole blood samples from 18 reindeer that were preserved either by immediate freezing or by immersion in 70 % ethanol. All samples were dried at 60 °C, powdered, treated with 1:1 chloroform: methanol, and dried again before isotope analysis. There were no differences in the values of δ13C and δ15N between the methods of preservation. Isotopic differences were absolutely small (δ13C = 0.1±0.10/00; δ15N=0.2±0.20/00), random in direction, and within the limits of analytical precision for the mass spectrometer. Preservation in ethanol thus appears to be an effective and efficient method for preserving blood samples for stable isotope analysis under field conditions. Abstract in Norwegian / Sammendrag:Konservering av blodprøver fra rein i 70% etanolløsning påvirker ikke verdiene av δ13C and δ15N–verdiene og er en fullgod metode for analyse av stabile isotoperVi sammenlignet to og to prøver av blodprøver fra 18 reinsdyr. Prøvene var enten konservert ved umiddelbar frysing eller ved bruk av 70% etanol. Alle prøver ble tørket ved 60 °C, pulverisert og behandlet med kloroform:metanol i forholdet 1:1. Til slutt ble de tørket på nytt før gjennomføring av isotopanalysen. Vi fant ingen forskjell i verdiene av δ13C and δ15N mellom de to konserveringsmetodene. I absolutte verdier var isotopforskjellene små (δ13C = 0.1±0.1 0/00; δ15N=0.2±0.2 0/00). Forskjellene var tilfeldige og innenfor grensene for massespektrometerets presisjon. Bruk av etanol framstår som en effektiv og fullgod metode til konservering av blodprøver for analyse av stabile isotoper under feltforhold.

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