UTILITY OF STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS IN STUDYING FORAGING ECOLOGY OF HERBIVORES: EXAMPLES FROM MOOSE AND CARIBOU
Recently, researchers emphasized that patterns of stable isotope ratios observed at the individual level are a result of an interaction between ecological, physiological, and biochemical processes. Isotopic models for herbivores provide additional complications because those mammals consume foods th...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Lakehead University
2001
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/599 |
id |
ftjalces:oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/599 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftjalces:oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/599 2023-05-15T13:13:30+02:00 UTILITY OF STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS IN STUDYING FORAGING ECOLOGY OF HERBIVORES: EXAMPLES FROM MOOSE AND CARIBOU Ben-David, Merav Shochat, Einav Adams, Layne G. 2001-01-01 application/pdf http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/599 eng eng Lakehead University http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/599/681 http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/599 Alces: A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose; Vol. 37 No. 2 (2001): Alces Vol. 37 No. 2 (2001); 421-434 2293-6629 0835-5851 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Peer-reviewed Article 2001 ftjalces 2022-02-12T19:35:49Z Recently, researchers emphasized that patterns of stable isotope ratios observed at the individual level are a result of an interaction between ecological, physiological, and biochemical processes. Isotopic models for herbivores provide additional complications because those mammals consume foods that have high variability in nitrogen concentrations. In addition, distribution of amino acids in plants may differ greatly from that required by a herbivore. Thus, substantial amounts of amino acids would be synthesized or recycled by herbivores. At northern latitudes, were the growing season of vegetation is short, isotope ratios in herbivore tissues are expected to differ between seasons. Summer ratios likely reflect diet composition, whereas winter ratios would reflect diet and nutrient recycling by the animals. We tested this hypothesis using data collected from blood samples of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) and moose (Alces alces) in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USA. Stable isotope ratios of moose and caribou were significantly different from each other in late summer-autumn and winter. Also, late summer-autumn and winter ratios differed significantly between seasons in both species. Nonetheless, we were unable to evaluate whether differences in seasonal isotopic ratios were a result of diet selection or a response to nutrient recycling. We believe that additional studies on plant isotopic ratios as related to ecological factors in conjunction with investigations of diet selection by the herbivores will enhance our understanding of those interactions. Also, controlled studies investigating the relation between diet and physiological responses in herbivores will increase the utility of isotope analysis in studying foraging ecology of herbivores. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces Rangifer tarandus Alaska Alces (A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Alces (A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose) |
op_collection_id |
ftjalces |
language |
English |
description |
Recently, researchers emphasized that patterns of stable isotope ratios observed at the individual level are a result of an interaction between ecological, physiological, and biochemical processes. Isotopic models for herbivores provide additional complications because those mammals consume foods that have high variability in nitrogen concentrations. In addition, distribution of amino acids in plants may differ greatly from that required by a herbivore. Thus, substantial amounts of amino acids would be synthesized or recycled by herbivores. At northern latitudes, were the growing season of vegetation is short, isotope ratios in herbivore tissues are expected to differ between seasons. Summer ratios likely reflect diet composition, whereas winter ratios would reflect diet and nutrient recycling by the animals. We tested this hypothesis using data collected from blood samples of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) and moose (Alces alces) in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USA. Stable isotope ratios of moose and caribou were significantly different from each other in late summer-autumn and winter. Also, late summer-autumn and winter ratios differed significantly between seasons in both species. Nonetheless, we were unable to evaluate whether differences in seasonal isotopic ratios were a result of diet selection or a response to nutrient recycling. We believe that additional studies on plant isotopic ratios as related to ecological factors in conjunction with investigations of diet selection by the herbivores will enhance our understanding of those interactions. Also, controlled studies investigating the relation between diet and physiological responses in herbivores will increase the utility of isotope analysis in studying foraging ecology of herbivores. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ben-David, Merav Shochat, Einav Adams, Layne G. |
spellingShingle |
Ben-David, Merav Shochat, Einav Adams, Layne G. UTILITY OF STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS IN STUDYING FORAGING ECOLOGY OF HERBIVORES: EXAMPLES FROM MOOSE AND CARIBOU |
author_facet |
Ben-David, Merav Shochat, Einav Adams, Layne G. |
author_sort |
Ben-David, Merav |
title |
UTILITY OF STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS IN STUDYING FORAGING ECOLOGY OF HERBIVORES: EXAMPLES FROM MOOSE AND CARIBOU |
title_short |
UTILITY OF STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS IN STUDYING FORAGING ECOLOGY OF HERBIVORES: EXAMPLES FROM MOOSE AND CARIBOU |
title_full |
UTILITY OF STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS IN STUDYING FORAGING ECOLOGY OF HERBIVORES: EXAMPLES FROM MOOSE AND CARIBOU |
title_fullStr |
UTILITY OF STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS IN STUDYING FORAGING ECOLOGY OF HERBIVORES: EXAMPLES FROM MOOSE AND CARIBOU |
title_full_unstemmed |
UTILITY OF STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS IN STUDYING FORAGING ECOLOGY OF HERBIVORES: EXAMPLES FROM MOOSE AND CARIBOU |
title_sort |
utility of stable isotope analysis in studying foraging ecology of herbivores: examples from moose and caribou |
publisher |
Lakehead University |
publishDate |
2001 |
url |
http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/599 |
genre |
Alces alces Rangifer tarandus Alaska |
genre_facet |
Alces alces Rangifer tarandus Alaska |
op_source |
Alces: A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose; Vol. 37 No. 2 (2001): Alces Vol. 37 No. 2 (2001); 421-434 2293-6629 0835-5851 |
op_relation |
http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/599/681 http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/599 |
_version_ |
1766258749031317504 |