Yolk carotenoids and stable isotopes reveal links among environment, foraging behavior and seabird breeding success

Hipfner, J. Mark; Dale, James; McGraw, Kevin J.

doi:10.1007/s00442-010-1618-0

Cited by 15 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Thus, our results underline the importance of the availability of carotenoids and vitamins in the predominant diet during egg formation in determining their concentrations in the yolk [8-11,45,54-56]. Yet, diet-dependent changes in yolk carotenoid and α/γ-tocopherol composition as observed in this study not only reflect availability and individual food preferences, but may also relate to physiological processes such as competitive exclusion and selective absorption in the uptake of nutrients in the gut [57].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Environmental effects shape the maternal transfer of carotenoids and vitamin E to the yolk

et al. 2012

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IntroductionMaternal effects occur when the phenotype of the offspring is influenced by the phenotype of the mother, which in turn depends on her heritable state as well as on influences from the current and past environmental conditions. All of these pathways may, therefore, form significant sources of variation in maternal effects. Here, we focused on the maternal transfer of carotenoids and vitamin E to the egg yolk, using canaries as a model species. Maternal yolk carotenoids and vitamin E are known to generate significant phenotypic variation in offspring, representing examples of maternal effects. We studied the intra-individual consistency in deposition patterns across two years and the mother-daughter resemblance across two generations in order to estimate the level of heritable variation. The effects of the current environmental conditions were studied via a food supplementation experiment, while the consequences of past environmental conditions were estimated on the basis of the early growth trajectories.ResultsThere was a significant effect of the current environmental conditions on the yolk carotenoid and vitamin E deposition, but this effect varied between antioxidant components. The deposition of yolk carotenoids and vitamin E were linked to the process of yolk formation. Past environmental conditions did not contribute to the variation in yolk carotenoid and vitamin E levels nor did we find significant heritable variation.ConclusionsThe transfer of carotenoids or vitamin E may be an example where current environmental variation is largely passed from the mother to the offspring, despite the numerous intermediate physiological steps that are involved. Differences in the effect of the environmental conditions as experienced by the mother during laying may be due to differences in availability as well as physiological processes such as competitive exclusion or selective absorption.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Environmental effects shape the maternal transfer of carotenoids and vitamin E to the yolk

et al. 2012

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“…Published datasets show that isotope values of blue whale prey and zooplankton collected from the CCS were consistent over decadal timescales (1994, 2000–2001, 2013) and between sites (Monterey Bay and British Columbia) [60,61,63,64,115]. Moreover, the δ 15 N values in blue whale baleen plates that were assigned to the CCS show a remarkably consistent pattern regardless of when the baleen was collected (1980s vs. 2000s; S1 Table, Fig 4).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating blue whale skin isotopic incorporation rates and baleen growth rates: Implications for assessing diet and movement patterns in mysticetes

et al. 2017

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Stable isotope analysis in mysticete skin and baleen plates has been repeatedly used to assess diet and movement patterns. Accurate interpretation of isotope data depends on understanding isotopic incorporation rates for metabolically active tissues and growth rates for metabolically inert tissues. The aim of this research was to estimate isotopic incorporation rates in blue whale skin and baleen growth rates by using natural gradients in baseline isotope values between oceanic regions. Nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) isotope values of blue whale skin and potential prey were analyzed from three foraging zones (Gulf of California, California Current System, and Costa Rica Dome) in the northeast Pacific from 1996–2015. We also measured δ15N and δ13C values along the lengths of baleen plates collected from six blue whales stranded in the 1980s and 2000s. Skin was separated into three strata: basale, externum, and sloughed skin. A mean (±SD) skin isotopic incorporation rate of 163±91 days was estimated by fitting a generalized additive model of the seasonal trend in δ15N values of skin strata collected in the Gulf of California and the California Current System. A mean (±SD) baleen growth rate of 15.5±2.2 cm y-1 was estimated by using seasonal oscillations in δ15N values from three whales. These oscillations also showed that individual whales have a high fidelity to distinct foraging zones in the northeast Pacific across years. The absence of oscillations in δ15N values of baleen sub-samples from three male whales suggests these individuals remained within a specific zone for several years prior to death. δ13C values of both whale tissues (skin and baleen) and potential prey were not distinct among foraging zones. Our results highlight the importance of considering tissue isotopic incorporation and growth rates when studying migratory mysticetes and provide new insights into the individual movement strategies of blue whales.

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“…At this time of year, rhinoceros auklets feed on a mixed diet including both fish and lower trophic level prey such as euphausiids (Davies et al 2009). In years in which chlorophyll concentrations in local waters are high, their eggs tend to be especially rich in carotenoids, which are lipidsoluble pigments synthesized exclusively by primary producers (Hipfner et al 2010a). In addition, the presence of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin in egg yolks suggested that rhinoceros auklets might feed on juvenile sandlance at this time, since both of these carotenoids were found in juvenile sandlance but not in other potential prey items (Hipfner et al 2010b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental control of the breeding success of rhinoceros auklets at Triangle Island, British Columbia

Borstad¹,

Crawford²,

Hipfner³

et al. 2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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There are few studies of the mechanistic links between physical environmental processes and biotic responses in marine ecosystems that have strong predictive power. At Triangle Island, the largest seabird colony along Canada's Pacific coast, annual breeding success of rhinoceros auklets Cerorhinca monocerata varies dramatically. Previous studies have correlated this variability with ocean temperature, but this relationship occasionally fails, suggesting that it is not causal. We used historical satellite data time series of sea surface temperature, chlorophyll, and winds to study the oceanography of this remote colony. We found that rhinoceros auklets bred more successfully when the spring transition in regional winds and the resulting spring phytoplankton bloom occurred early in April. These factors appear to control the annual recruitment of Pacific sandlance Ammodytes hexapterus, as measured by the percent by biomass of young-of-the-year sandlance in the nestling diet. These linkages imply bottom-up control in this system. Suggesting broader implications of our work, we also found that marine survival of economically and culturally important sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka from nearby Smith Inlet was strongly correlated with the fledgling mass of the rhinoceros auklets, sandlance in the chicks' diets, and regional chlorophyll in April. The timing of the spring wind transition and phytoplankton bloom appear to be important for other predators in this system. We think that these relationships with wind and chlorophyll derived from satellite data are potentially valuable explanatory tools that will be widely applicable to studies of early marine survival of many marine species.

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Yolk carotenoids and stable isotopes reveal links among environment, foraging behavior and seabird breeding success

Cited by 15 publications

References 52 publications

Environmental effects shape the maternal transfer of carotenoids and vitamin E to the yolk

Environmental effects shape the maternal transfer of carotenoids and vitamin E to the yolk

Estimating blue whale skin isotopic incorporation rates and baleen growth rates: Implications for assessing diet and movement patterns in mysticetes

Environmental control of the breeding success of rhinoceros auklets at Triangle Island, British Columbia

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