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Linking isotopic and migratory patterns in a pelagic seabird
Raül Ramos1, Jacob González-Solís, Xavier Ruiz
1Departament de Biologia Animal (Vertebrats), Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. ramos@ub.edu
Oecologia
|February 6, 2009
Summary
Stable isotope analysis reveals feather growth locations in Cory's shearwaters. This method tracks marine animal migrations by analyzing carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur isotopes in feathers, linking them to specific breeding and wintering areas.
Area of Science:
- Marine ecology
- Isotope geochemistry
- Avian biology
Background:
- Stable isotope analysis is crucial for tracking animal migrations.
- Understanding isotopic integration into animal tissues in marine environments is limited.
- Cory's shearwaters exhibit transoceanic movements, making them ideal study subjects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate isotopic and moult patterns in Cory's shearwaters.
- To assess the integration of stable isotopes (C, N, S) into feathers.
- To link feather isotopic signatures to specific geographic regions and migratory movements.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of stable isotope signatures (delta(13)C, delta(15)N, delta(34)S) in wing, tail, and breast feathers.
- Examination of moult patterns in relation to isotopic signatures.
- Collection of Cory's shearwater specimens from accidental bycatch.
Main Results:
- Feathers were segregated into breeding (Mediterranean) and wintering (Atlantic) groups based on isotopic signatures.
- Atlantic-grown feathers showed two distinct isotopic profiles, suggesting different wintering areas.
- Nitrogen (N) signatures indicated Mediterranean-to-Atlantic migration, while Carbon (C) and Sulfur (S) signatures differentiated Atlantic wintering sites.
Conclusions:
- Stable isotope signatures in feathers integrate information from distant oceanic regions.
- Feather isotopic analysis can accurately indicate the region where each feather was grown.
- This study validates stable isotope analysis for marine animal tracking, migratory connectivity, and understanding carry-over effects.
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