Stable isotopes demonstrate intraspecific variation in habitat use and trophic level of non‐breeding albatrosses
The non‐breeding period is critical for restoration of body condition and self‐maintenance in albatrosses, yet detailed information on diet and distribution during this stage of the annual cycle is lacking for many species. Here, we use stable isotope values of body feathers (δ13C, δ15N) to infer ha...
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John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Ornithologists' Union
2021
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Online Access: | http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/528539/ https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/528539/1/ibi.12874.pdf https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ibi.12874 |
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:528539 2023-05-15T13:41:45+02:00 Stable isotopes demonstrate intraspecific variation in habitat use and trophic level of non‐breeding albatrosses Mills, William F. McGill, Rona A.R. Cherel, Yves Votier, Stephen C. Phillips, Richard A. 2021-04 text http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/528539/ https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/528539/1/ibi.12874.pdf https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ibi.12874 en eng John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Ornithologists' Union https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/528539/1/ibi.12874.pdf Mills, William F. orcid:0000-0001-7170-5794 McGill, Rona A.R.; Cherel, Yves; Votier, Stephen C.; Phillips, Richard A. 2021 Stable isotopes demonstrate intraspecific variation in habitat use and trophic level of non‐breeding albatrosses. Ibis, 163 (2). 463-472. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12874 <https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12874> cc_by_4 CC-BY Publication - Article PeerReviewed 2021 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12874 2023-02-04T19:51:07Z The non‐breeding period is critical for restoration of body condition and self‐maintenance in albatrosses, yet detailed information on diet and distribution during this stage of the annual cycle is lacking for many species. Here, we use stable isotope values of body feathers (δ13C, δ15N) to infer habitat use and trophic level of non‐breeding adult Grey‐headed Albatrosses Thalassarche chrysostoma (n = 194) from South Georgia. Specifically, we: (1) investigate intrinsic drivers (sex, age, previous breeding outcome) of variation in habitat use and trophic level; (2) quantify variation among feathers of the same birds; and (3) examine potential carry‐over effects of habitat use and trophic level during the non‐breeding period on subsequent breeding outcome. In agreement with previous tracking studies, δ13C values of individual feathers indicate that non‐breeding Grey‐headed Albatrosses from South Georgia foraged across a range of oceanic habitats, but mostly in subantarctic waters, between the Antarctic Polar Front and Subtropical Front. Sex differences were subtle but statistically significant, and overlap in the core isotopic niche areas was high (62%); however, males exhibited slightly lower δ13C and higher δ15N values than females, indicating that males forage at higher latitudes and at a higher trophic level. Neither age nor previous breeding outcome influenced stable isotope values, and we found no evidence of carry‐over effects of non‐breeding habitat use or trophic level on subsequent breeding outcome. Repeatability among feathers of the same individual was moderate in δ13C and low in δ15N. This cross‐sectional study demonstrates high variability in the foraging and migration strategies of this albatross population. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Antarctic The Antarctic Ibis 163 2 463 472 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftnerc |
language |
English |
description |
The non‐breeding period is critical for restoration of body condition and self‐maintenance in albatrosses, yet detailed information on diet and distribution during this stage of the annual cycle is lacking for many species. Here, we use stable isotope values of body feathers (δ13C, δ15N) to infer habitat use and trophic level of non‐breeding adult Grey‐headed Albatrosses Thalassarche chrysostoma (n = 194) from South Georgia. Specifically, we: (1) investigate intrinsic drivers (sex, age, previous breeding outcome) of variation in habitat use and trophic level; (2) quantify variation among feathers of the same birds; and (3) examine potential carry‐over effects of habitat use and trophic level during the non‐breeding period on subsequent breeding outcome. In agreement with previous tracking studies, δ13C values of individual feathers indicate that non‐breeding Grey‐headed Albatrosses from South Georgia foraged across a range of oceanic habitats, but mostly in subantarctic waters, between the Antarctic Polar Front and Subtropical Front. Sex differences were subtle but statistically significant, and overlap in the core isotopic niche areas was high (62%); however, males exhibited slightly lower δ13C and higher δ15N values than females, indicating that males forage at higher latitudes and at a higher trophic level. Neither age nor previous breeding outcome influenced stable isotope values, and we found no evidence of carry‐over effects of non‐breeding habitat use or trophic level on subsequent breeding outcome. Repeatability among feathers of the same individual was moderate in δ13C and low in δ15N. This cross‐sectional study demonstrates high variability in the foraging and migration strategies of this albatross population. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Mills, William F. McGill, Rona A.R. Cherel, Yves Votier, Stephen C. Phillips, Richard A. |
spellingShingle |
Mills, William F. McGill, Rona A.R. Cherel, Yves Votier, Stephen C. Phillips, Richard A. Stable isotopes demonstrate intraspecific variation in habitat use and trophic level of non‐breeding albatrosses |
author_facet |
Mills, William F. McGill, Rona A.R. Cherel, Yves Votier, Stephen C. Phillips, Richard A. |
author_sort |
Mills, William F. |
title |
Stable isotopes demonstrate intraspecific variation in habitat use and trophic level of non‐breeding albatrosses |
title_short |
Stable isotopes demonstrate intraspecific variation in habitat use and trophic level of non‐breeding albatrosses |
title_full |
Stable isotopes demonstrate intraspecific variation in habitat use and trophic level of non‐breeding albatrosses |
title_fullStr |
Stable isotopes demonstrate intraspecific variation in habitat use and trophic level of non‐breeding albatrosses |
title_full_unstemmed |
Stable isotopes demonstrate intraspecific variation in habitat use and trophic level of non‐breeding albatrosses |
title_sort |
stable isotopes demonstrate intraspecific variation in habitat use and trophic level of non‐breeding albatrosses |
publisher |
John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Ornithologists' Union |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/528539/ https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/528539/1/ibi.12874.pdf https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ibi.12874 |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic |
op_relation |
https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/528539/1/ibi.12874.pdf Mills, William F. orcid:0000-0001-7170-5794 McGill, Rona A.R.; Cherel, Yves; Votier, Stephen C.; Phillips, Richard A. 2021 Stable isotopes demonstrate intraspecific variation in habitat use and trophic level of non‐breeding albatrosses. Ibis, 163 (2). 463-472. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12874 <https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12874> |
op_rights |
cc_by_4 |
op_rightsnorm |
CC-BY |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12874 |
container_title |
Ibis |
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163 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
463 |
op_container_end_page |
472 |
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1766157052573384704 |