Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Discrimination Factors for Quantifying Spectacled Eider Nutrient Allocation to Egg Production

Federer, Rebekka N.; Hollmén, Tuula E.; Esler, Daniel; Wooller, Matthew J.

doi:10.1525/cond.2012.110132

Cited by 9 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…However, we estimated a D 13 C close to 0, which contrasts with the Federer et al (2012) estimate of 1.9%. Again, we suggest that the Federer et al (2012) results are only approximations, and much more carefully controlled studies are needed on captive eiders using single homogenized diets.…”

Section: Stable Isotope Modelscontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…A current weakness, however, is clearly our poor understanding of the isotopic discrimination factors related to the transfer of dietary nutrients to eggs as well as the transfer of dietary nutrients first to endogenous stores and then through remobilization to egg formation. Federer et al (2012) provided an important set of discrimination estimates specific to eiders based on their captive rearing study on Spectacled Eiders, and those were used here in a first application to a wild congeneric species. However, the Federer et al (2012) study was limited by several factors that need to be considered; the diet of captive Spectacled Eiders was not a single homogenized source but consisted of a combination of commercial feed and Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia).…”

Section: Stable Isotope Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Federer et al (2012) provided an important set of discrimination estimates specific to eiders based on their captive rearing study on Spectacled Eiders, and those were used here in a first application to a wild congeneric species. However, the Federer et al (2012) study was limited by several factors that need to be considered; the diet of captive Spectacled Eiders was not a single homogenized source but consisted of a combination of commercial feed and Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia). As a result, Federer et al (2012) were forced to estimate the relative biomass of each of these food items to the actual diet of the birds.…”

Section: Stable Isotope Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the Federer et al (2012) study was limited by several factors that need to be considered; the diet of captive Spectacled Eiders was not a single homogenized source but consisted of a combination of commercial feed and Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia). As a result, Federer et al (2012) were forced to estimate the relative biomass of each of these food items to the actual diet of the birds. This is particularly concerning because the 2 diets differed dramatically in their N content (3.3% vs. 13.6%), and we know that discrimination factors are strongly influenced by the protein quality of the diet and possibly also by the protein quantity (Robbins et al 2005, Martinez del Rio et al 2009, Martinez del Rio and Carleton 2012.…”

Section: Stable Isotope Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, a current challenge with this approach is the establishment of appropriate diet-to-egg and endogenous reserve-to-egg isotopic discrimination factors that allow quantitative inferences of the relative contribution of endogenous and exogenous nutrient sources to various egg components and macromolecules. A recent study by Federer et al (2012) provides an opportunity to use eider-specific isotopic discrimination factors that can better inform isotopic mixing models applied to estimating nutrient allocation to reproduction in wild eiders.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Differential contributions of endogenous and exogenous nutrients to egg components in wild Baltic Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima): A test of alternative stable isotope approaches

Hobson

Jaatinen

Öst

2015

The Auk

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The relative importance of nutrients derived from feeding on breeding vs. nonbreeding grounds to the formation of eggs is crucial for predicting how the breeding success of migrating birds responds to changes in food availability during any part of their annual cycle. Eiders have been considered a classical capital breeder, but this assumption has rarely been tested. The measurement of naturally occurring stable isotopes in egg components, together with those in endogenous and exogenous nutrient endpoints, allow the estimation of the relative sources of nutrients to eggs, but these mixing models rely critically on appropriate isotopic discrimination factors that link egg isotope values with their source. A recent captive study using Spectacled Eiders (Somateria fischeri) provided estimates of these isotopic discrimination factors for income breeding. We applied these discrimination factors for investigating nutrient allocation strategies in Common Eiders (Somateria mollisima) breeding in the northern Baltic (Tvärminne, Finland) and wintering in Danish waters, sourced during 2009-2012. Our overall estimates of protein sources using isotopic mixing models were mixed for egg yolk (median: 44.5-56.5% endogenous) and overwhelmingly exogenous for egg albumen (0.4-0.7%). We tested our conclusions also with a single (d 15 N) model and with a more parsimonious d 13 C discrimination factor between diet and egg albumen, and both supported little to no endogenous reserves being used for egg albumen. A strong positive correlation between egg lipid d 13 C and lipid-free yolk d 13 C suggests similar metabolic pathways between diet sources and these egg macromolecules. The applicability of isotope discrimination factors used in nutrient allocation studies derived from captive populations needs to be tested in wild populations. Our results support the idea that potential food limitation not only at the wintering areas, but also at the breeding grounds, can limit breeding success of Baltic Common Eiders, which are currently declining.Contribución diferencial de nutrientes endógenos y exógenos a los componentes del huevo de individuos silvestres de Somateria mollissima: evaluación de enfoques alternativos de isótopos estables RESUMEN La importancia relativa de los nutrientes derivados de la alimentación en los sitios reproductivos y no reproductivos para la formación de los huevos es crucial para predecir cómo eléxito reproductivo de las aves migratorias responde a los cambios en la disponibilidad de alimentos durante cualquier parte de su ciclo anual. Somateria mollissima ha sido considerada como un ave criadora de capital clásica, pero este supuesto muy pocas veces no ha sido evaluado. La medición de isótopos estables naturales en los componentes del huevo, junto a la de los puntos finales de nutrientes endógenos y exógenos, permite estimar las fuentes relativas de nutrientes de los huevos, pero estos modelos duales dependen de modo crítico de los factores de discriminación de isótopos apropiados que vinculan los valores isotópic...

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Section: Stable Isotope Modelscontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Stable Isotope Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Stable Isotope Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Stable Isotope Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Differential contributions of endogenous and exogenous nutrients to egg components in wild Baltic Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima): A test of alternative stable isotope approaches

Hobson

Jaatinen

Öst

2015

The Auk

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Use of marine vs. freshwater proteins for egg‐laying and incubation by sea ducks breeding in Arctic tundra

et al. 2022

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Understanding dietary nutrient sources is fundamental to conserving sensitive species, especially as climate change alters food web dynamics. Migratory species that depend on both marine and terrestrial habitats face unique challenges, as the locations and quality of resources in the two realms may respond quite differently to environmental changes, with potential for spatial and temporal carryover effects. For sea ducks (Mergini) that winter at sea but move inland to breed, body size may determine their capacity to store nutrient reserves for later use in alternative habitats. We assessed ultimate sources of protein for reproduction in four sea duck species in northern Alaska: smaller‐bodied Long‐tailed Ducks and Steller's Eiders (Clangula hyemalis and Polysticta stelleri), and larger‐bodied Spectacled and King Eiders (Somateria fischeri and Somateria spectabilis). To assess the relative use of local freshwater foods vs. marine protein for both egg production and body maintenance of incubating females, we measured stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in egg membranes, red blood cells, marine and freshwater invertebrates, and vegetation. For egg production, isotope mixing models indicated that proteinaceous egg membranes of all four species were derived mostly (89%–95%) from freshwater foods on the breeding grounds, with broad individual variation in specific prey types selected by the larger species. For incubation, isotopes in red blood cells indicated that body maintenance of females also relied mainly (87%–91%) on freshwater foods in Long‐tailed Ducks and Steller's Eiders. However, incubating Spectacled and King Eiders obtained only about 60% of their protein from freshwater foods and the remainder from marine‐derived body tissues. The latter strategy allows the larger‐bodied species to incubate almost continuously, whereas the smaller species must take more frequent incubation breaks and generally incur higher rates of predation on eggs. Thus, depending on body size, cross‐seasonal effects of feeding conditions in marine habitats may strongly influence population processes well after the birds move to inland nesting sites. Although conservation programs on land and sea are often researched, planned, and administered by different agencies and organizations, our results emphasize the need to coordinate marine and land‐based efforts for species that integrate conditions across both environments.

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Older female little penguins Eudyptula minor adjust nutrient allocations to both eggs

Ramírez

Forero

Hobson

et al. 2015

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

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Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Discrimination Factors for Quantifying Spectacled Eider Nutrient Allocation to Egg Production

Cited by 9 publications

References 22 publications

Differential contributions of endogenous and exogenous nutrients to egg components in wild Baltic Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima): A test of alternative stable isotope approaches

Differential contributions of endogenous and exogenous nutrients to egg components in wild Baltic Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima): A test of alternative stable isotope approaches

Use of marine vs. freshwater proteins for egg‐laying and incubation by sea ducks breeding in Arctic tundra

Older female little penguins Eudyptula minor adjust nutrient allocations to both eggs

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