An Isotopic Approach to Measuring Nitrogen Balance in Caribou
Nutritional restrictions in winter may reduce the availability of protein for reproduction and survival in northern ungulates. We refined a technique that uses recently voided excreta on snow to assess protein status in wild caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in late winter. Our study was the first applica...
Published in: | The Journal of Wildlife Management |
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The Wildlife Society
2011
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ftbioone:10.1002/jwmg.11 2023-07-30T04:06:29+02:00 An Isotopic Approach to Measuring Nitrogen Balance in Caribou David D. Gustine Perry S. Barboza Layne G. Adams Richard G. Farnell Katherine L. Parker David D. Gustine Perry S. Barboza Layne G. Adams Richard G. Farnell Katherine L. Parker world 2011-01-01 text/HTML https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.11 en eng The Wildlife Society doi:10.1002/jwmg.11 All rights reserved. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.11 Text 2011 ftbioone https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.11 2023-07-09T08:15:12Z Nutritional restrictions in winter may reduce the availability of protein for reproduction and survival in northern ungulates. We refined a technique that uses recently voided excreta on snow to assess protein status in wild caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in late winter. Our study was the first application of this non-invasive, isotopic approach to assess protein status of wild caribou by determining dietary and endogenous contributions of nitrogen (N) to urinary urea. We used isotopic ratios of N (δ15N) in urine and fecal samples to estimate the proportion of urea N derived from body N (p-UN) in pregnant, adult females of the Chisana Herd, a small population that ranged across the Alaska-Yukon border. We took advantage of a predator-exclosure project to examine N status of penned caribou in April 2006. Lichens were the primary forage (>40%) consumed by caribou in the pen and δ15N of fiber tracked the major forages in their diets. The δ15N of urinary urea for females in the pen was depleted relative (-1.3 ± 1.0 parts per thousand [‰], ±SD) to the δ15N of body N (2.7 ±0.7‰). A similar proportion of animals in the exclosure lost core body mass (excluding estimates of fetal and uterine tissues; 55%) and body protein (estimated by isotope ratios; 54%). This noninvasive technique could be applied at various spatial and temporal scales to assess trends in protein status of free-ranging populations of northern ungulates. Intra- and inter-annual estimates of protein status could help managers monitor effects of foraging conditions on nutritional constraints in ungulates, increase the efficiency and efficacy of management actions, and help prepare stakeholders for potential changes in population trends. Text Rangifer tarandus Alaska Yukon BioOne Online Journals Yukon The Journal of Wildlife Management 75 1 178 188 |
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description |
Nutritional restrictions in winter may reduce the availability of protein for reproduction and survival in northern ungulates. We refined a technique that uses recently voided excreta on snow to assess protein status in wild caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in late winter. Our study was the first application of this non-invasive, isotopic approach to assess protein status of wild caribou by determining dietary and endogenous contributions of nitrogen (N) to urinary urea. We used isotopic ratios of N (δ15N) in urine and fecal samples to estimate the proportion of urea N derived from body N (p-UN) in pregnant, adult females of the Chisana Herd, a small population that ranged across the Alaska-Yukon border. We took advantage of a predator-exclosure project to examine N status of penned caribou in April 2006. Lichens were the primary forage (>40%) consumed by caribou in the pen and δ15N of fiber tracked the major forages in their diets. The δ15N of urinary urea for females in the pen was depleted relative (-1.3 ± 1.0 parts per thousand [‰], ±SD) to the δ15N of body N (2.7 ±0.7‰). A similar proportion of animals in the exclosure lost core body mass (excluding estimates of fetal and uterine tissues; 55%) and body protein (estimated by isotope ratios; 54%). This noninvasive technique could be applied at various spatial and temporal scales to assess trends in protein status of free-ranging populations of northern ungulates. Intra- and inter-annual estimates of protein status could help managers monitor effects of foraging conditions on nutritional constraints in ungulates, increase the efficiency and efficacy of management actions, and help prepare stakeholders for potential changes in population trends. |
author2 |
David D. Gustine Perry S. Barboza Layne G. Adams Richard G. Farnell Katherine L. Parker |
format |
Text |
author |
David D. Gustine Perry S. Barboza Layne G. Adams Richard G. Farnell Katherine L. Parker |
spellingShingle |
David D. Gustine Perry S. Barboza Layne G. Adams Richard G. Farnell Katherine L. Parker An Isotopic Approach to Measuring Nitrogen Balance in Caribou |
author_facet |
David D. Gustine Perry S. Barboza Layne G. Adams Richard G. Farnell Katherine L. Parker |
author_sort |
David D. Gustine |
title |
An Isotopic Approach to Measuring Nitrogen Balance in Caribou |
title_short |
An Isotopic Approach to Measuring Nitrogen Balance in Caribou |
title_full |
An Isotopic Approach to Measuring Nitrogen Balance in Caribou |
title_fullStr |
An Isotopic Approach to Measuring Nitrogen Balance in Caribou |
title_full_unstemmed |
An Isotopic Approach to Measuring Nitrogen Balance in Caribou |
title_sort |
isotopic approach to measuring nitrogen balance in caribou |
publisher |
The Wildlife Society |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.11 |
op_coverage |
world |
geographic |
Yukon |
geographic_facet |
Yukon |
genre |
Rangifer tarandus Alaska Yukon |
genre_facet |
Rangifer tarandus Alaska Yukon |
op_source |
https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.11 |
op_relation |
doi:10.1002/jwmg.11 |
op_rights |
All rights reserved. |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.11 |
container_title |
The Journal of Wildlife Management |
container_volume |
75 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
178 |
op_container_end_page |
188 |
_version_ |
1772819132980396032 |