Isotopic Discrimination (δ15N, δ13C) in Captive and Wild Common Murres (Uria aalge) and Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica)

Jenkins, Edward; Gulka, Julia; Yurkowski, David J.; François, Nathalie; Wong, Emiko; Davoren, Gail K.

doi:10.1086/709460

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…Although higher variation in plasma relative to CC suggests more variation in the prey types consumed among individuals over a few days relative to when averaged over the longer‐term, this contrasting variation is also observed in seabird species fed a controlled, single‐species diet (Jenkins et al . 2019, 2020). This suggests that high variation in plasma may be at least partly related to differences between tissue types, such as the amount of lipids (Jenkins et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This suggests that high variation in plasma may be at least partly related to differences between tissue types, such as the amount of lipids (Jenkins et al . 2019, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For plasma, values of 2.18‰ for δ 15 N and −0.71‰ for δ 13 C were applied to Murres and Razorbills, and 1.72‰ for δ 15 N and −0.18‰ for δ 13 C were applied to Puffins (Jenkins et al . 2020). Although we plotted the SEA c for Storm Petrel whole blood on an isoplot, a trophic discrimination factor was not applied, as there are no published factors for this species or another species with similar taxonomy and body size.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seabird species‐ and assemblage‐level isotopic niche shifts associated with changing prey availability during breeding in coastal Newfoundland

Jenkins

Davoren

2020

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Shifting prey availability can lead to altered species interactions, indicated by variation in the dietary niche breadth and position of species within an assemblage. On the Newfoundland coast, annual inshore spawning migration of the dominant forage fish, Capelin Mallotus villosus, provides an excellent opportunity to investigate the influence of varying prey availability on dietary niche breadth and position among species. During June–August 2017, we investigated species‐ and assemblage‐level dietary responses to shifting Capelin availability of three Capelin‐eating, sympatrically breeding auk species, the Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica, Razorbill Alca torda and Common Murre Uria aalge. The diet of Leach's Storm Petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa, which breed alongside the three auk species but are not known to rely on Capelin, was also examined to determine dietary shifts throughout breeding that were unrelated to Capelin availability. We quantified stable isotope ratios (δ15N, δ13C) in seabird blood components (plasma, cellular component) collected both before and after spawning Capelin arrived in the study area and compared isotopic niche breadth within a Bayesian framework. At the species level, auk trophic position increased and isotopic niche breadth narrowed after Capelin arrived, suggesting a more Capelin‐based diet. Simultaneously, trophic diversity of the auk assemblage, reflecting the extent of spacing among niches of species, decreased after spawning Capelin arrived inshore. Contrastingly, increased trophic position but broader isotopic niche breadth during higher relative to lower Capelin availability for Leach's Storm Petrel confirm that this species is probably not affected by the inshore arrival of Capelin, but instead that isotopic changes may be more related to a shift in breeding stage to chick‐rearing. Overall, our findings reiterate the importance of Capelin as a prey resource for breeding auks in coastal Newfoundland, but that the degree of reliance on Capelin varies among species, possibly allowing coexistence of these ecologically similar species. The findings highlight potential changing species interactions, such as increased competition, under declines in Capelin biomass.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This suggests that high variation in plasma may be at least partly related to differences between tissue types, such as the amount of lipids (Jenkins et al . 2019, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seabird species‐ and assemblage‐level isotopic niche shifts associated with changing prey availability during breeding in coastal Newfoundland

Jenkins

Davoren

2020

Ibis

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“…To the best of our knowledge there are no diet-tissue discrimination factor (DTDF) calculated for BRBO or RFBOs. These factors are often specific for taxon, tissue, and even diet-specific [66,67], making them one of the largest sources of bias for isotopic mixing model practices [66]. In this study we used the DTDF calculated for Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) in a captive experiment developed by [67]; we chose the DTDF calculated for plasma δ 13 C and δ 15 N isotopic ratios (− 0.18‰ for δ 13 C and + 1.72‰ for δ 15 N) to compare directly with boobies' plasma δ 13 C and δ 15 N values and minimize the error of the models.…”

Section: Diet Reconstruction Using Si Mixing Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These factors are often specific for taxon, tissue, and even diet-specific [66,67], making them one of the largest sources of bias for isotopic mixing model practices [66]. In this study we used the DTDF calculated for Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) in a captive experiment developed by [67]; we chose the DTDF calculated for plasma δ 13 C and δ 15 N isotopic ratios (− 0.18‰ for δ 13 C and + 1.72‰ for δ 15 N) to compare directly with boobies' plasma δ 13 C and δ 15 N values and minimize the error of the models. Although puffins and boobies have different ecology and live in different environments (temperate vs tropics), we believe that these DTDF are the most adjusted values for this study, considering other values available in the literature [68,69].…”

Section: Diet Reconstruction Using Si Mixing Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Year-round at-sea distribution and trophic resources partitioning between two sympatric Sulids in the tropical Atlantic

et al. 2021

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In the oligotrophic tropical marine environment resources are usually more patchily distributed and less abundant to top predators. Thus, spatial and trophic competition can emerge, especially between related seabird species belonging to the same ecological guild. Here we studied the foraging ecology of two sympatric species–brown booby (BRBO) Sula leucogaster (breeding) and red-footed boobies (RFBO) Sula sula (non-breeding)–at Raso islet (Cabo Verde), across different seasons. Sexual segregation was only observed during Jun-Oct, when RFBO were present, with larger females BRBO remaining closer to the colonies, while males and RFBO travelled further and exploited different habitats. Overall, species appeared to prefer areas with specific oceanic features, particularly those related with oceanic currents and responsible for enhancing primary productivity in tropical oceanic areas (e.g. Sea Surface Height and Ocean Mixed Layer Thickness). Female BRBOs showed high foraging-site fidelity during the period of sympatry, while exploiting the same prey species as the other birds. However, during the months of co-existence (Jun.-Oct.), isotopic mixing models suggested that female BRBO would consume a higher proportion of epipelagic fish, whereas female RFBO would consume more squid compared to the other birds, possibly due to habitat-specific prey availability and breeding energy-constraints for BRBO. We conclude that divergent parental roles, environmental conditions, habitat preference and competition could be mechanisms simultaneously underlying sexual segregation for BRBO during a period of co-existence, while inter-specific foraging differences appear to be more affected by habitat preference and different breeding stages. These results support previous statements that BRBO can adapt their foraging ecology to different circumstances of environmental conditions and competition, and that marine physical features play an important role in foraging decisions of boobies.

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Sexual segregation in the foraging distribution, behaviour, and trophic niche of the endemic Boyd’s shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri boydi)

et al. 2022

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Studies on sex-speci c segregation in foraging and trophic niche have been focused on large and dimorphic seabirds, with less information on small monomorphic species. Here, we used mini-GPS loggers, habitat suitability models, and stable isotopes to assess the foraging movements, at-sea spatial distribution, and trophic ecology of male and female Boyd's shearwaters Pu nus lherminieri boydi in Raso Islet (16°36' N, 24°35' W), Cabo Verde, during the breeding seasons of 2018-2019. The existence of sexual foraging segregation was tested in short and long foraging trips. Females engaged on longer foraging trips, travelling towards more distant and northward regions from the colony when compared to males, especially during long foraging excursions. Spatial overlap within and between sexes was generally low, indicating a sex-speci c pattern in the foraging behaviour and spatial distribution of adult breeders. Habitat suitability models revealed a higher importance for chlorophyll a concentration in explaining females' at-sea distribution during long foraging trips when compared to males, although the most important predictors in explaining adults' distribution were sea surface temperature and height for short and long excursions, respectively. Stable isotope analysis revealed that both sexes occupied similar isotopic niches and stable isotope mixing models revealed no diet differences. This indicates that Boyd's shearwaters segregate at the spatial level while foraging but rely on similar food resources. Our results suggest that female-biased nutritional requirements at the onset of chick-rearing may be driving sexual foraging segregation in this population, which depends upon resources from a rather oligotrophic environment.

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Isotopic Discrimination (δ¹⁵N, δ¹³C) in Captive and Wild Common Murres (Uria aalge) and Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica)

Cited by 12 publications

References 66 publications

Seabird species‐ and assemblage‐level isotopic niche shifts associated with changing prey availability during breeding in coastal Newfoundland

Seabird species‐ and assemblage‐level isotopic niche shifts associated with changing prey availability during breeding in coastal Newfoundland

Year-round at-sea distribution and trophic resources partitioning between two sympatric Sulids in the tropical Atlantic

Sexual segregation in the foraging distribution, behaviour, and trophic niche of the endemic Boyd’s shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri boydi)

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