The use of stable isotope ratios in whitebait otolith carbonate to identify the source of prey for Western Australian penguins
A methodology has been developed and used to investigate a direct link between juvenile whitebait (Hyperlophus vittatus), the key prey species sampled from the stomachs of Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor), and the specific nursery area of that prey. A unique application of existing methodology init...
Published in: | Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology |
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-0981(03)00096-0 https://researchportal.murdoch.edu.au/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/The-use-of-stable-isotope-ratios/991005540218607891 |
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ftmurdochunivall:oai:alma.61MUN_INST:11135121870007891 2024-09-15T18:29:15+00:00 The use of stable isotope ratios in whitebait otolith carbonate to identify the source of prey for Western Australian penguins Lenanton, R.C.J. Valesini, F. Bastow, T.P. Nowara, G.B. Edmonds, J.S. Connard, M.N. 2003 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-0981(03)00096-0 https://researchportal.murdoch.edu.au/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/The-use-of-stable-isotope-ratios/991005540218607891 eng eng Elsevier BV ispartof: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology spage 17 epage 27 issue 1 vol 291 doi:10.1016/S0022-0981(03)00096-0 WOS:000183196200002 0022-0981 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-0981(03)00096-0 991005540218607891 https://researchportal.murdoch.edu.au/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/The-use-of-stable-isotope-ratios/991005540218607891 alma:61MUN_INST/bibs/991005540218607891 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. text Article 2003 ftmurdochunivall https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-0981(03)00096-0 2024-08-15T00:52:51Z A methodology has been developed and used to investigate a direct link between juvenile whitebait (Hyperlophus vittatus), the key prey species sampled from the stomachs of Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor), and the specific nursery area of that prey. A unique application of existing methodology initially involved the measurement of the stable isotopes of oxygen (δ18O:δ16O) and carbon (δ13C:δ12C) in sagittal otolith carbonate, using standard mass spectrometric techniques. The results indicated that the inshore distribution of juvenile (0+ year old) whitebait between Cockburn Sound and Koombana Bay, Western Australia consisted of a number of separate assemblages. Measured differences in stable oxygen isotope ratios were attributed to variations in freshwater input to the embayments that provided the whitebait habitats. In contrast, the measured stable carbon isotope ratios probably resulted from the different isotopic compositions of the food webs in the various habitats. Secondly, a comparison of the average value of carbon and oxygen isotope signatures of pooled otoliths from samples of whitebait from a number of different nearshore coastal sites (assemblages), with that of whitebait obtained from the stomachs of penguins at their main breeding site (Penguin Island) indicated that the values from the penguins resemble most closely those of the average otolith values obtained from whitebait from only one site (Becher Point). Assuming that the whitebait sampled were representative of the whitebait in the nearshore habitats and the diets of the penguins, then these results imply that at the time of sampling the penguins were feeding on whitebait from only one site. Article in Journal/Newspaper Penguin Island Murdoch University Research Portal Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 291 1 17 27 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Murdoch University Research Portal |
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ftmurdochunivall |
language |
English |
description |
A methodology has been developed and used to investigate a direct link between juvenile whitebait (Hyperlophus vittatus), the key prey species sampled from the stomachs of Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor), and the specific nursery area of that prey. A unique application of existing methodology initially involved the measurement of the stable isotopes of oxygen (δ18O:δ16O) and carbon (δ13C:δ12C) in sagittal otolith carbonate, using standard mass spectrometric techniques. The results indicated that the inshore distribution of juvenile (0+ year old) whitebait between Cockburn Sound and Koombana Bay, Western Australia consisted of a number of separate assemblages. Measured differences in stable oxygen isotope ratios were attributed to variations in freshwater input to the embayments that provided the whitebait habitats. In contrast, the measured stable carbon isotope ratios probably resulted from the different isotopic compositions of the food webs in the various habitats. Secondly, a comparison of the average value of carbon and oxygen isotope signatures of pooled otoliths from samples of whitebait from a number of different nearshore coastal sites (assemblages), with that of whitebait obtained from the stomachs of penguins at their main breeding site (Penguin Island) indicated that the values from the penguins resemble most closely those of the average otolith values obtained from whitebait from only one site (Becher Point). Assuming that the whitebait sampled were representative of the whitebait in the nearshore habitats and the diets of the penguins, then these results imply that at the time of sampling the penguins were feeding on whitebait from only one site. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lenanton, R.C.J. Valesini, F. Bastow, T.P. Nowara, G.B. Edmonds, J.S. Connard, M.N. |
spellingShingle |
Lenanton, R.C.J. Valesini, F. Bastow, T.P. Nowara, G.B. Edmonds, J.S. Connard, M.N. The use of stable isotope ratios in whitebait otolith carbonate to identify the source of prey for Western Australian penguins |
author_facet |
Lenanton, R.C.J. Valesini, F. Bastow, T.P. Nowara, G.B. Edmonds, J.S. Connard, M.N. |
author_sort |
Lenanton, R.C.J. |
title |
The use of stable isotope ratios in whitebait otolith carbonate to identify the source of prey for Western Australian penguins |
title_short |
The use of stable isotope ratios in whitebait otolith carbonate to identify the source of prey for Western Australian penguins |
title_full |
The use of stable isotope ratios in whitebait otolith carbonate to identify the source of prey for Western Australian penguins |
title_fullStr |
The use of stable isotope ratios in whitebait otolith carbonate to identify the source of prey for Western Australian penguins |
title_full_unstemmed |
The use of stable isotope ratios in whitebait otolith carbonate to identify the source of prey for Western Australian penguins |
title_sort |
use of stable isotope ratios in whitebait otolith carbonate to identify the source of prey for western australian penguins |
publisher |
Elsevier BV |
publishDate |
2003 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-0981(03)00096-0 https://researchportal.murdoch.edu.au/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/The-use-of-stable-isotope-ratios/991005540218607891 |
genre |
Penguin Island |
genre_facet |
Penguin Island |
op_relation |
ispartof: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology spage 17 epage 27 issue 1 vol 291 doi:10.1016/S0022-0981(03)00096-0 WOS:000183196200002 0022-0981 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-0981(03)00096-0 991005540218607891 https://researchportal.murdoch.edu.au/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/The-use-of-stable-isotope-ratios/991005540218607891 alma:61MUN_INST/bibs/991005540218607891 |
op_rights |
2003 Elsevier Science B.V. |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-0981(03)00096-0 |
container_title |
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology |
container_volume |
291 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
17 |
op_container_end_page |
27 |
_version_ |
1810470658499411968 |