scholarly journals Stable Carbon Isotope Measurements on Hair from Wild Animals from Altiplanic Environments of Jujuy, Argentina

Radiocarbon ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 709-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Héctor O Panarello ◽  
C Jorge Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Stable Carbon Isotopes ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
Animal Tissues ◽  
Isotopic Study ◽  
The Andes ◽  
Different Types

The use of stable carbon isotopes as dietary tracers is an application that is widening its scope within the fields of ecology and paleoecology. Although hair is potentially one of the most favorable animal tissues for isotopic measurement for dietary studies, this tissue is rarely included in research works. This may be due to the fact that many aspects related to hair tissue are not fully understood, especially in the case of wild animals whose diets consist of plants with contrasting 13C/12C ratios, their abundance depending on seasonality. The present isotopic study of hair from animals inhabiting the Andes in northwestern Argentina, at heights ranging from 3500 to about 5000 m above sea level (asl) shows that 1) δ13C values measured on hair from herbivores with a mixed and isotopically contrasting diet, and from their carnivorous predators, differ in their respective trophic levels, 2) in primary consumers, different types of hair from the same individual have different δ13C values, whereas hair values are homogeneous in carnivores, and 3) some types of hair from rodents, such as whiskers, show δ13C values similar to those of less metabolically active tissues such as bone collagen.

Sulfur isotopes (δ34S) in Arctic marine mammals: indicators of benthic vs. pelagic foraging

2020 ◽  
Vol 653 ◽  
pp. 205-216
Author(s):  
P Szpak ◽  
M Buckley
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Sulfur Isotope ◽  
Foraging Ecology ◽  
Sulfur Isotopes ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Ringed Seal ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Stable Carbon

Consumer tissue stable carbon isotope compositions (δ13C) are well established indicators of benthic and pelagic foraging in marine ecosystems. Stable sulfur isotope compositions (δ34S) are also potentially useful in this regard but have not been widely utilized outside of estuaries and salt marsh ecosystems. To test the ability of δ13C and δ34S to reflect benthic and pelagic foraging, we analyzed the stable carbon, nitrogen (δ15N), and sulfur isotope compositions of bone collagen from walrus (an obligate benthic feeder) and ringed seal (a mixed benthic/pelagic feeder) sampled from across the North American Arctic. Both had relatively low δ34S values compared to those typically observed in marine consumers. These data suggest an important role for benthic microalgae in coastal marine food webs in the Arctic. At all of the 10 locations where both taxa could be sampled, walrus had lower δ34S values than ringed seal, suggesting that this measurement is a useful indicator of benthic and pelagic foraging in nearshore Arctic environments. Contrary to expectations, there were no consistent differences in δ13C between walrus and ringed seal at any of these sites, suggesting that this measurement may not always be best interpreted in light of benthic vs. pelagic foraging, particularly when comparisons are made across trophic levels. When the foraging ecology of a consumer is unknown, our data suggest that δ34S may be a more sensitive indicator of the relative importance of benthic and pelagic prey in the diet than δ13C.

When animals are not quite what they eat: diet digestibility influences 13C-incorporation rates and apparent discrimination in a mixed-feeding herbivore

2011 ◽  
Vol 89 (6) ◽  
pp. 453-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daryl Codron ◽  
Jacqui Codron ◽  
Matt Sponheimer ◽  
Stefano M. Bernasconi ◽  
Marcus Clauss
Keyword(s):  
Isotope Composition ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Capra Hircus ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
Animal Tissues ◽  
Themeda Triandra ◽  
Low Protein ◽  
Medicago Sativa L ◽  
Discrimination Factors

The stable carbon isotope composition of animal tissues represents the weighted sum of the variety of food sources eaten. If sources differ in digestibility, tissues may overrepresent intake of more digestible items and faeces may overrepresent less digestible items. We tested this idea using whole blood and faeces of goats ( Capra hircus L., 1758) fed different food mixtures of C3 lucerne ( Medicago sativa L.) and C4 grass ( Themeda triandra Forssk.). Although blood and faecal δ13C values were broadly consistent with diet, results indicate mismatch between consumer and diet isotope compositions: both materials overrepresented the C3 (lucerne) component of diets. Lucerne had lower fibre digestibility than T. triandra, which explains the results for faeces, whereas underrepresentation of dietary C4 in blood is consistent with low protein content of the grass hay. A diet switch experiment revealed an important difference in 13C-incorporation rates across diets, which were slower for grass than lucerne diets, and in fact equilibrium states were not reached for all diets. Although more research is needed to link digestive kinetics with isotope incorporation, these results provide evidence for nonlinear relationships between consumers and their diets, invoking concerns about the conceptual value of “discrimination factors” as the prime currency for contemporary isotope ecology.

Drought signals inferred from ring-width and stable carbon isotope chronologies from Thuja occidentalis trees growing at their northwestern distribution limit, central Canada

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 517-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Au ◽  
Jacques C. Tardif
Keyword(s):  
Tree Ring ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotopes ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Ring Formation ◽  
Moisture Regime ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
Thuja Occidentalis ◽  
Central Canada

Stable carbon isotopes (δ13C) fixed in tree rings are dependent upon environmental conditions. Old northern white-cedar ( Thuja occidentalis L.) trees were sampled at their northwestern limit of distribution in central Canada. The objectives of the study were (i) to investigate the association between tree-ring δ13C values and radial growth in addition to the response of these variables to climate, (ii) to assess site differences between two sites varying in moisture regime, and (iii) to compare tree-ring δ13C of T. occidentalis with that of other boreal tree species growing at the northern limit of their distribution in central Canada. Over 2500 tree rings comprised of 15 T. occidentalis trees were analyzed for δ13C. Annually resolved δ13C (1650–2006) and ring-width (1542–2006) chronologies were developed. During the year of ring formation, ring width was associated with spring and early-summer conditions, whereas δ13C was more indicative of overall summer conditions. However, compared with δ13C values, ring width was more often associated with climate conditions in the year prior to ring formation. Conditions conducive to moisture stress were important for both parameters. Although ring width and δ13C corresponded to the drought intervals of the 1790s, 1840s, 1890s, 1930s, and 1960–1970, ring width may be more responsive to prolonged drought than δ13C. Tree-ring δ13C could, however, provide important information regarding physiological adaptations to drought.

A study of food chains in seagrass communities. III. Stable carbon isotope ratios

1985 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 683 ◽  
Author(s):  
PD Nichols ◽  
DW Klumpp ◽  
RB Johns
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Isotope ◽  
Opposite Effect ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Benthic Algae ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Food Chains ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
Commercial Fish ◽  
Δ13c Values ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope Ratios

Stable carbon isotope determinations have been used to obtain a general background to food chains being studied by a range of chemical and biological techniques. δ13C values indicate that animals (δ13CC - 11.4‰ to - 14.9‰), including two locally important commercial fish, Platycephalus laevigatus (rock flathead) and Hyporhamphus melanochir (southern sea garfish), from the Corner Inlet seagrass and non-seagrass communities are dependent to varying degrees upon seagrass (δ13C - 7.0‰ to - 9.3‰) and benthic algae for their carbon source. The largest changes in δ13C values in the food chains is at the point involving seagrasses and their direct herbivores. The latter have more negative δ13C values (H. melanochir - 12.1%o, isopods - 11.4%o). Little or no change in δ13C values is apparent at the higher trophic levels (carnivores - 13 .0‰ to - 14.9‰). Epiphytic material on the fresh leaves of the two seagrass species in the Inlet is depleted in 13C when compared with the seagrass leaves. An opposite effect is observed for epiphytic material on Posidonia australis detritus.

scholarly journals Diet and association of Pontonia pinnophylax occurring in Pinna nobilis: insights from stable isotope analysis

2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 177-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Kennedy ◽  
C.A. Richardson ◽  
C.M. Duarte ◽  
D.P. Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Carbon Sources ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Mantle Cavity ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
Pinna Nobilis ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Sea Grass

Stable carbon isotope measurements (δ13C) were used to assess the sources of carbon assimilated by the fan mussel Pinna nobilis, in sea grass Posidonia oceanica meadows, and an associated shrimp Pontonia pinnophylax which occurs within this bivalve's mantle cavity. The primary carbon sources available to both animals displayed a wide range of δ13C values, from −12·3 to −22·3‰. The δ13C and δ15N of Pinna nobilis and Pontonia pinnophylax suggest that they assimilate carbon from similar sources, occupy comparable trophic levels and that their association is commensal.

scholarly journals Source apportionment of carbonaceous aerosols in Xi'an, China: insights from a full year of measurements of radiocarbon and the stable isotope <sup>13</sup>C

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (22) ◽  
pp. 16363-16383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiyan Ni ◽  
Ru-Jin Huang ◽  
Junji Cao ◽  
Weiguo Liu ◽  
Ting Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Coal Combustion ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotopes ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Fuel Combustion ◽  
Fossil Fuel Combustion ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
Source Contributions ◽  
Secondary Formation

Abstract. Sources of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) in Xi'an, China, are investigated based on 1-year radiocarbon and stable carbon isotope measurements. The radiocarbon results demonstrate that EC is dominated by fossil sources throughout the year, with a mean contribution of 83±5 % (7±2 µg m−3). The remaining 17±5 % (1.5±1 µg m−3) is attributed to biomass burning, with a higher contribution in the winter (∼24 %) compared to the summer (∼14 %). Stable carbon isotopes of EC (δ13CEC) are enriched in winter (-23.2±0.4 ‰) and depleted in summer (-25.9±0.5 ‰), indicating the influence of coal combustion in winter and liquid fossil fuel combustion in summer. By combining radiocarbon and stable carbon signatures, relative contributions from coal combustion and liquid fossil fuel combustion are estimated to be 45 % (median; 29 %–58 %, interquartile range) and 31 % (18 %–46 %) in winter, respectively, whereas in other seasons more than one half of EC is from liquid fossil combustion. In contrast with EC, the contribution of non-fossil sources to OC is much larger, with an annual average of 54±8 % (12±10 µg m−3). Clear seasonal variations are seen in OC concentrations both from fossil and non-fossil sources, with maxima in winter and minima in summer because of unfavorable meteorological conditions coupled with enhanced fossil and non-fossil activities in winter, mainly biomass burning and domestic coal burning. δ13COC exhibited similar values to δ13CEC, and showed strong correlations (r2=0.90) in summer and autumn, indicating similar source mixtures with EC. In spring, δ13COC is depleted (1.1 ‰–2.4 ‰) compared to δ13CEC, indicating the importance of secondary formation of OC (e.g., from volatile organic compound precursors) in addition to primary sources. Modeled mass concentrations and source contributions of primary OC are compared to the measured mass and source contributions. There is strong evidence that both secondary formation and photochemical loss processes influence the final OC concentrations.

Fractionation and turnover of stable carbon isotopes in animal tissues: Implications for ?13C analysis of diet

Oecologia ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 57 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 32-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. L. Tieszen ◽  
T. W. Boutton ◽  
K. G. Tesdahl ◽  
N. A. Slade
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Isotopes ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotopes ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
Animal Tissues

Vertical stratification of Neotropical leaf-nosed bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) revealed by stable carbon isotopes

2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (03) ◽  
pp. 211-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Rex ◽  
Robert Michener ◽  
Thomas H. Kunz ◽  
Christian C. Voigt
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Isotope ◽  
Carbon Isotopes ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Rain Forest ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotopes ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
The Body ◽  
Vertical Stratification ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
Stable Carbon

Abstract:Tropical rain forests harbour the most diverse plant and animal assemblages known to science, but our understanding of assemblage structure and species interactions is limited. Bats, as the only flying mammals, have the potential to exploit resources from all strata in forest communities. Thus, fruit-eating phyllostomid bats often have been categorized into canopy-, subcanopy- and understorey-foraging species, based largely upon the height at which they were most frequently captured. Here we challenge this classification and use stable carbon isotopes to assess foraging height of bat species at an Amazonian rain-forest site in Ecuador and at a Caribbean lowland rain-forest site in Costa Rica for comparison with data from mist-net captures. The proportion of the heavy stable carbon isotope13C in relation to the lighter12C isotope increases in plants from ground level to the canopy (0.12‰ m−1–0.18‰ m−1), and these differences in stable carbon isotope signatures are reflected in the body tissue of phytophagous bats. We used the stable carbon isotope ratio (δ13C) of wing tissue to estimate the foraging heights of 54 phyllostomid species in two Neotropical bat assemblages. Based on stable isotope data, phyllostomid species exploit food resources at all vertical strata of the forest. Capture height was not a reliable predictor of foraging height and suggests that bats most likely use lower strata to commute between foraging sites to avoid predators. Vertical stratification is likely to be a key factor promoting niche partitioning, thus promoting high local species richness in many tropical animal assemblages.

Understanding specifics in generalist diets of carnivorans by analyzing stable carbon isotope values in Pleistocene mammals of Florida

Paleobiology ◽  
10.1666/13055 ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 477-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert S. Feranec ◽  
Larisa R. G. DeSantis
Keyword(s):  
Food Webs ◽  
Carbon Isotope ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Tooth Enamel ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Trophic Relationships ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
Generalist Diet ◽  
Ancient Food

Within ancient ecosystems, it is generally difficult to determine the specific diets of species from higher trophic levels, which in turn hinders our understanding of trophic relationships and energy flow through these systems. To better understand the ecology of taxa at higher trophic levels, we used analysis of tooth enamel stable carbon isotope values to infer the dietary preferences of Canis edwardii and Smilodon gracilis from the Leisey Shell Pit 1A (LSP 1A) and Inglis 1A, two Pleistocene localities in Florida. The goals of the analyses were to (1) determine whether these carnivorans specialized in particular prey types or maintained a generalist diet; (2) ascertain whether carbon isotope values support what was previously suggested about the ecology of these species; and (3) establish what ecological details of ancient food webs can be discovered by carbon isotope analyses at higher trophic levels. Results show that the sampled carnivoran carbon isotope values are distributed among suspected prey isotope values, suggesting that varied prey were taken at the study localities. Prey compositions were modeled for each carnivoran species by using Stable Isotope Analysis in R (SIAR). The modeled diets indicate that each studied carnivoran had a generalist diet; however, there are differences in how these taxa achieved dietary generalization. At the glacial Inglis 1A locality, sampled individuals of C. edwardii and S. gracilis show similar isotope values and modeled dietary prey proportions, although both carnivorans do show a preference for grazing prey species. The similar isotopic values, and calculated prey proportions, observed between these species may imply greater interspecific competition for food. At the interglacial LSP 1A locality, C. edwardii shows values similar to those observed at Inglis 1A. In contrast, the data for S. gracilis shows a preference for consuming browsing prey species. Further, its restricted range of carbon isotope values suggests that S. gracilis may have concentrated its feeding within a particular habitat. Examination of stable carbon isotope values among species at higher trophic levels reveals that some intricacies of ancient food webs can be discerned.

Stable carbon isotope ratios in Periplaneta americana L., the American cockroach

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 584-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Miller ◽  
G. L. Orr ◽  
P. Fritz ◽  
R. G. H. Downer ◽  
A. V. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Periplaneta Americana ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotopes ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
American Cockroach ◽  
The Other ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
Corpus Cardiacum ◽  
Low Carbohydrate Diet ◽  
General Decline

The distribution of stable carbon isotopes in carbohydrate, lipid, and protein of Periplaneta americana was studied in insects raised on two different diets. Cockroaches that received a sucrose supplement in their diet had chitin and lipids enriched in 13C compared with those insects not given sucrose. Sucrose has a high 13C content relative to the other dietary constituents and enrichment was due to the incorporation of sucrose carbon into these body fractions. The isotope ratios of protein and glycogen from insects raised on a low carbohydrate diet differed significantly from those fed sucrose. Respiratory CO2 collected from insects receiving sucrose was more enriched in 13C than that from insects on the other diet, reflecting the source of metabolic fuel. Starved insects showed a general decline in the heavier isotope in respired carbon dioxide, as lipids were used as an energy source. Cockroaches that were injected with corpus cardiacum extract responded by respiring CO2 depleted in 13C, a result similar to those induced by starvation. This result is consistent with experiments demonstrating a switch from carbohydrate to lipid oxidation caused by corpus cardiacum extract.

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