Isotopic segregation between sympatric seabird species increases with nutritional stress
Dietary segregation is essential for the coexistence of closely related species of animals. However, little is known about how changes in availability of food resources might affect trophic interactions of wild animals breeding in sympatry. Here, we examined how interannual variations in relative fo...
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crroyalsociety:10.1098/rsbl.2011.1020 2024-06-23T07:51:45+00:00 Isotopic segregation between sympatric seabird species increases with nutritional stress Barger, Christopher P. Kitaysky, Alexander S. 2011 http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2011.1020 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsbl.2011.1020 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rsbl.2011.1020 en eng The Royal Society https://royalsociety.org/journals/ethics-policies/data-sharing-mining/ Biology Letters volume 8, issue 3, page 442-445 ISSN 1744-9561 1744-957X journal-article 2011 crroyalsociety https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2011.1020 2024-06-04T06:22:50Z Dietary segregation is essential for the coexistence of closely related species of animals. However, little is known about how changes in availability of food resources might affect trophic interactions of wild animals breeding in sympatry. Here, we examined how interannual variations in relative food availability (as reflected in blood levels of stress hormone corticosterone, CORT) affect food partitioning (assessed via a comparison of stable isotope δ 15 N and δ 13 C ratios of blood) between the common murre ( Uria aalge ) and thick-billed murre ( Uria lomvia ), breeding on a single colony in the Bering Sea. During a 6-year study, CORT varied among years but not between species, whereas stable isotope ratios varied among years and between species. Isotopic distance between species increased with increasing CORT. These results indicate that, when food was not limiting, both species relied on similar food resources. As foraging conditions deteriorated, murres diverged in their diets. We conclude that the degree of dietary segregation between Uria spp. varies with changes in the availability of food and is greatest during food shortages. Article in Journal/Newspaper Bering Sea Common Murre thick-billed murre Uria aalge Uria lomvia uria The Royal Society Bering Sea Biology Letters 8 3 442 445 |
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English |
description |
Dietary segregation is essential for the coexistence of closely related species of animals. However, little is known about how changes in availability of food resources might affect trophic interactions of wild animals breeding in sympatry. Here, we examined how interannual variations in relative food availability (as reflected in blood levels of stress hormone corticosterone, CORT) affect food partitioning (assessed via a comparison of stable isotope δ 15 N and δ 13 C ratios of blood) between the common murre ( Uria aalge ) and thick-billed murre ( Uria lomvia ), breeding on a single colony in the Bering Sea. During a 6-year study, CORT varied among years but not between species, whereas stable isotope ratios varied among years and between species. Isotopic distance between species increased with increasing CORT. These results indicate that, when food was not limiting, both species relied on similar food resources. As foraging conditions deteriorated, murres diverged in their diets. We conclude that the degree of dietary segregation between Uria spp. varies with changes in the availability of food and is greatest during food shortages. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Barger, Christopher P. Kitaysky, Alexander S. |
spellingShingle |
Barger, Christopher P. Kitaysky, Alexander S. Isotopic segregation between sympatric seabird species increases with nutritional stress |
author_facet |
Barger, Christopher P. Kitaysky, Alexander S. |
author_sort |
Barger, Christopher P. |
title |
Isotopic segregation between sympatric seabird species increases with nutritional stress |
title_short |
Isotopic segregation between sympatric seabird species increases with nutritional stress |
title_full |
Isotopic segregation between sympatric seabird species increases with nutritional stress |
title_fullStr |
Isotopic segregation between sympatric seabird species increases with nutritional stress |
title_full_unstemmed |
Isotopic segregation between sympatric seabird species increases with nutritional stress |
title_sort |
isotopic segregation between sympatric seabird species increases with nutritional stress |
publisher |
The Royal Society |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2011.1020 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsbl.2011.1020 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rsbl.2011.1020 |
geographic |
Bering Sea |
geographic_facet |
Bering Sea |
genre |
Bering Sea Common Murre thick-billed murre Uria aalge Uria lomvia uria |
genre_facet |
Bering Sea Common Murre thick-billed murre Uria aalge Uria lomvia uria |
op_source |
Biology Letters volume 8, issue 3, page 442-445 ISSN 1744-9561 1744-957X |
op_rights |
https://royalsociety.org/journals/ethics-policies/data-sharing-mining/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2011.1020 |
container_title |
Biology Letters |
container_volume |
8 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
442 |
op_container_end_page |
445 |
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1802642889344286720 |