Within-wing isotopic (δ2H, δ13C, δ15N) variation of monarch butterflies: implications for studies of migratory origins and diet

Hobson, Keith A.; Plint, Tessa; Serrano, E.; Alvarez, Xiomara Mora; Ramirez, Isabel; Longstaffe, Fred J.

doi:10.1515/ami-2017-0002

Cited by 6 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(28 reference statements)

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“…As indicated by the multivariate linear regression model, sex, percent hydrogen of wing sample and dry weight of the butterfly do not have a significant influence on δ 2 H values in wings (Table 1). This experiment demonstrates that if metabolism influences the fractionation of hydrogen isotopes in wings, this influence is not related to the adult body mass and/or sex of the individual, which supports the findings of Hobson et al (2017). When using isotopes to trace the migration of butterfly species, the sample set often includes individuals of different sizes.…”

Section: Identifying Non-significant Controls On δ 2 H Values In Butt...supporting

confidence: 69%

“…will affect wing δ 2 H values. Previous studies have shown that wing δ 2 H values vary based on the pigmentation within the sampling region (Hobson et al, 2017). In this study, we test if δ 2 H values vary based on wing pigmentation (orange vs. black), wing shade (dark orange vs. light orange), the presence of major veins and the absence of wing scales in the wing sample.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Next, the wings were cleaned using the 2:1 chloroform:methanol solution to remove lipids, dust, and contaminates from the wings that could have impacted the δ 2 H values of the wing samples (Paritte and Kelly, 2009;Hobson et al, 2017). The wings were washed three times for 60, 30, and 15 minutes, respectively, with agitation and were flipped halfway through each wash.…”

Section: Sample Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Temporal stability of δ2H in insect tissues: Implications for isotope-based geographic assignments

Lindroos

Bataille²,

Holder³

et al. 2023

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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Hydrogen isotope geolocation of insects is based on the assumption that the chitin in the wings of adult migratory insects preserves the hydrogen isotope composition (δ2H) of the larval stages without influence of adult diet. Here, we test this assumption by conducting laboratory feeding experiments for monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) including: (1) a starvation treatment where adults were not fed and (2) an enriched treatment where adults were fed a diet isotopically enriched in deuterium (~ +78‰) compared to the larval diet. The δ2H values of adult wings were measured at different time steps along the 24-day experiment. We also investigated intra-wing differences in δ2H values caused by wing pigmentation, absence of wing scales, and presence of major wing veins. We conclude that, although the magnitude of the changes in δ2H values are small (~6‰), wing δ2H values vary based on adult diet and insect age, particularly early after eclosion (i.e., 1–4 days). We found that wing shade, wing pigmentation, and the presence of wing scales do not alter wing δ2H values. However, wing samples containing veins had systematically higher δ2H values (~9‰), suggesting that adult diet influences the hemolymph that circulates in the wing veins. We hypothesise that there is a stronger influence of adult diet on the isotope signal of wings during early adult life relative to later life because of increased metabolic and physiologic activity in young insect wings. We argue that the influence of the isotopic contribution of adult diet is generally small and is likely minimal if the wings are carefully sampled to avoid veins. However, we also demonstrated that wings are not inert tissues, and that adult feeding contributes to some of the intra-population δ2H variance. We conclude that δ2H geolocation using insect wings remains valid, but that adult feeding, butterfly age and wing vein sampling generate an inherent uncertainty limiting the precision of geolocation.

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Section: Identifying Non-significant Controls On δ 2 H Values In Butt...supporting

confidence: 69%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Sample Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Temporal stability of δ2H in insect tissues: Implications for isotope-based geographic assignments

Lindroos

Bataille²,

Holder³

et al. 2023

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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“…This has the effect of removing lipids which can change the %H exchangeability, the non-exchangeable  2 H value and the  13 C value of the samples. Furthermore, this may remove pigments which can interfere with the geographic  2 H signal 25 and possibly the other isotopic signals 26 ,although in the case of the uniformly yellow Brimstone Moths this is less likely to be a major concern.…”

Section: Sample Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An insect isoscape of UK and Ireland

Newton

2021

Rapid Comm Mass Spectrometry

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The study of insect migration is problematic due to the small size of insects. Stable isotope analysis can be used to elucidate movement, either by geographic assignment of location of a species, or by simply distinguishing migrant from resident populations. There are few isoscapes of any kind in the UK/Ireland available for interrogation. Thus, I have measured stable isotope ratios (of H, C, N and S) of 299 individuals of the non-migratory Brimstone moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) collected from 93 locations around the UK and Ireland by citizen scientists.Methods: After removing lipids, stable isotope ratios were measured by continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry, using either a conventional elemental analyser (C, N and S) or a high-temperature, thermal conversion elemental analyser in reductive mode.Results: Maps (isoscapes) were constructed that illustrate the stable isotope spatial distribution of this insect. These are the first isoscapes of H, C, N and S of biological samples covering both UK and Ireland. Conclusions:The insect isoscape patterns can be explained from what we know of moth diet, climate and geology. Sulfur isotopes may be of particular use for distinguishing individuals from areas of unique geology. Isoscape patterns may (with care) predict isotope compositions of other, herbivorous, non-aquatic, chitinous taxa. Such isoscapes, when extended beyond the UK and Ireland, would provide a useful tool to elucidate insect migration.

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“…All monarch wing samples were soaked and rinsed in a 2:1 chloroform:methanol solution and air dried. Subsamples were cut from the same region of the hindwing to reduce intersample variance due to isotopic effects from pigmentation (Hobson et al, 2017) and weighed (0.35 ± 0.02 mg) into silver capsules. All samples were prepared for δ 2 H and δ 18 O analysis at the Stable Isotope Laboratory of Environment Canada, Saskatoon, Canada.…”

Section: Stable Isotope Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expanding the Isotopic Toolbox to Track Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) Origins and Migration: On the Utility of Stable Oxygen Isotope (δ18O) Measurements

2019

Self Cite

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The measurement of naturally occurring stable hydrogen (δ 2 H) and carbon (δ 13 C) isotopes in wings of the eastern North American monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) have proven useful to infer natal origins of individuals overwintering in Mexico. This approach has provided a breakthrough for monarch conservation because it is the only viable means of inferring origins at continental scales. Recently, routine simultaneous analyses of tissue δ 2 H and δ 18 O of organic materials has emerged leading to questions of whether the dual measurement of these isotopes could be used to more accurately infer spatial origins even though the two isotopes are expected to be coupled due to the meteoric relationship. Such refinement would potentially increase the accuracy of isotopic assignment of wintering monarchs to natal origin. We measured a sample of 150 known natal-origin monarchs from throughout their eastern range simultaneously for both δ 2 H and δ 18 O wing values. Wing δ 2 H and δ 18 O values were correlated (r 2 = 0.42). We found that wing δ 2 H values were more closely correlated with amount-weighted growing season average precipitation δ 2 H values predicted for natal sites (r 2 = 0.61) compared to the relationship between wing δ 18 O values and amount-weighted growing season average precipitation δ 18 O values (r 2 = 0.30). This suggests that monarch wing δ 2 H values will be generally more useful in natal assignments than δ 18 O values. Spatial information related to the use of deuterium excess in environmental waters was similarly found to be not useful when applied to monarch wings likely due to the considerable variance in wing δ 18 O values. Nonetheless, we recommend further testing of monarch wing δ 2 H and δ 18 O values from known natal sites with an emphasis on field data across a strong gradient in precipitation deuterium excess.

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Within-wing isotopic (δ2H, δ13C, δ15N) variation of monarch butterflies: implications for studies of migratory origins and diet

Cited by 6 publications

References 20 publications

Temporal stability of δ2H in insect tissues: Implications for isotope-based geographic assignments

Temporal stability of δ2H in insect tissues: Implications for isotope-based geographic assignments

An insect isoscape of UK and Ireland

Expanding the Isotopic Toolbox to Track Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) Origins and Migration: On the Utility of Stable Oxygen Isotope (δ18O) Measurements

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