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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Online Access: | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3367740 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22171022 https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2011.1020 |
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ftpubmed:oai:pubmedcentral.nih.gov:3367740 2023-05-15T15:43:46+02:00 Isotopic segregation between sympatric seabird species increases with nutritional stress Barger, Christopher P. Kitaysky, Alexander S. 2012-06-23 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3367740 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22171022 https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2011.1020 en eng The Royal Society http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3367740 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22171022 http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2011.1020 This journal is © 2011 The Royal Society Marine Biology Text 2012 ftpubmed https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2011.1020 2013-09-04T08:15:10Z 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 δ15N and δ13C 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. Text Bering Sea Common Murre thick-billed murre Uria aalge Uria lomvia uria PubMed Central (PMC) Bering Sea Biology Letters 8 3 442 445 |
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Open Polar |
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PubMed Central (PMC) |
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ftpubmed |
language |
English |
topic |
Marine Biology |
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Marine Biology Barger, Christopher P. Kitaysky, Alexander S. Isotopic segregation between sympatric seabird species increases with nutritional stress |
topic_facet |
Marine Biology |
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 δ15N and δ13C 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 |
Text |
author |
Barger, Christopher P. Kitaysky, Alexander S. |
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 |
2012 |
url |
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3367740 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22171022 https://doi.org/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_relation |
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3367740 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22171022 http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2011.1020 |
op_rights |
This journal is © 2011 The Royal Society |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2011.1020 |
container_title |
Biology Letters |
container_volume |
8 |
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3 |
container_start_page |
442 |
op_container_end_page |
445 |
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1766377971736641536 |