Article Abstract:
Diet-tissue isotopic fractionation factors describe how stable-isotope ratios in consumer tissues are related to dietary values. Fractionation values for juvenile birds are influenced by diets, species, tissue types and nutritional stress. Age in adult falcons does not affect isotopic fractionation values. Isotopic fractionation values established previously for mammals are not applicable to avian fractionation values, except values between diet and collagen. Bird feeding exclusively on animal protein show similar nitrogen isotopic fractionation values for tissues.
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Article Abstract:
There are uniform patterns of isotopic fractionation between diet and yolk, albumen, yolk lipid, shell membranes and shell carbonate. This is in line with earlier captive readings which have confirmed the general predictability of departures of tissue isotope values, specifically for some mammalian tissues. The relative excess of naturally-occurring stable isotope of carbon and nitrogen in eggs should be related to those in the diets of the adult females as eggs are composed of nutrients derived from them. This is the basis for a method for tracing diets.
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Article Abstract:
The trophic relationships among seabirds in Central California was studied to determine their marine trophic relationships. The study made use of a stable isotope analysis (SIA) and techniques of diet assessment. Results illustrate the dynamic nature of trophic relationships in the area. Furthermore, the study shows the importance of SIA in determining marine food-web structure and foraging dynamics.
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