Stable isotope analysis of fecal material provides insight into the diet of fin whales
In cetaceans, stable isotope analysis of tissues overcomes some of the potential biases encountered in studies of diet based on stomach content or fecal analysis. However, stable isotope ratios of tissues are only indicative of long-term feeding and may be misleading when recent shifts in prey consu...
Published in: | Marine Mammal Science |
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Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10553/42414 https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12504 |
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ftunivlaspalmas:oai:accedacris.ulpgc.es:10553/42414 2023-05-15T15:36:38+02:00 Stable isotope analysis of fecal material provides insight into the diet of fin whales Arregui, Marina Borrell, Asuncion Vikingsson, Gisli Olafsdottir, Droplaug Aguilar, Alex 57196123112 7004925435 6507637711 6506444752 7102047003 18706139 540505 1294074 5546282 152226 WOS:Arregui, M WOS:Borrell, A WOS:Vikingsson, G WOS:Olafsdottir, D WOS:Aguilar, A 2018 http://hdl.handle.net/10553/42414 https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12504 eng eng 0824-0469 Marine Mammal Science 34 0824-0469 http://hdl.handle.net/10553/42414 doi:10.1111/mms.12504 85044391084 000448183700009 4 Sí Marine Mammal Science [ISSN 0824-0469], v. 34 (4), p. 1059-1069 Investigación Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus Iceland Feeding info:eu-repo/semantics/Article Article 2018 ftunivlaspalmas https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12504 2021-02-03T00:10:27Z In cetaceans, stable isotope analysis of tissues overcomes some of the potential biases encountered in studies of diet based on stomach content or fecal analysis. However, stable isotope ratios of tissues are only indicative of long-term feeding and may be misleading when recent shifts in prey consumption have occurred. Stable isotope ratios of feces stand as a potential alternative source for resolving short-term diet, but may be biased by digestive enzymes and bacteria. We investigate whether fecal stable isotope ratios of freshly dead fin whales are consistent with those of the main food found in their stomachs (krill) and with those of other potential prey. Results show that stable isotope ratios of krill remain unaltered after their transit along the digestive tract and, therefore, values in feces are reliable indicators of this prey consumption. In addition, the low isotope ratios of feces that visually appeared to contain only fish remains revealed a substantial contribution of krill in the digested food. This demonstrates that macroscopic gross fecal analysis may be misleading because less digestible components, like fish bones, may be overrepresented. We conclude that stable isotope ratios of feces contribute significant information to other techniques for short-term diet reconstruction. 1069 1059 Article in Journal/Newspaper Balaenoptera physalus Fin whale Iceland Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: Acceda Marine Mammal Science 34 4 1059 1069 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: Acceda |
op_collection_id |
ftunivlaspalmas |
language |
English |
topic |
Investigación Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus Iceland Feeding |
spellingShingle |
Investigación Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus Iceland Feeding Arregui, Marina Borrell, Asuncion Vikingsson, Gisli Olafsdottir, Droplaug Aguilar, Alex Stable isotope analysis of fecal material provides insight into the diet of fin whales |
topic_facet |
Investigación Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus Iceland Feeding |
description |
In cetaceans, stable isotope analysis of tissues overcomes some of the potential biases encountered in studies of diet based on stomach content or fecal analysis. However, stable isotope ratios of tissues are only indicative of long-term feeding and may be misleading when recent shifts in prey consumption have occurred. Stable isotope ratios of feces stand as a potential alternative source for resolving short-term diet, but may be biased by digestive enzymes and bacteria. We investigate whether fecal stable isotope ratios of freshly dead fin whales are consistent with those of the main food found in their stomachs (krill) and with those of other potential prey. Results show that stable isotope ratios of krill remain unaltered after their transit along the digestive tract and, therefore, values in feces are reliable indicators of this prey consumption. In addition, the low isotope ratios of feces that visually appeared to contain only fish remains revealed a substantial contribution of krill in the digested food. This demonstrates that macroscopic gross fecal analysis may be misleading because less digestible components, like fish bones, may be overrepresented. We conclude that stable isotope ratios of feces contribute significant information to other techniques for short-term diet reconstruction. 1069 1059 |
author2 |
57196123112 7004925435 6507637711 6506444752 7102047003 18706139 540505 1294074 5546282 152226 WOS:Arregui, M WOS:Borrell, A WOS:Vikingsson, G WOS:Olafsdottir, D WOS:Aguilar, A |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Arregui, Marina Borrell, Asuncion Vikingsson, Gisli Olafsdottir, Droplaug Aguilar, Alex |
author_facet |
Arregui, Marina Borrell, Asuncion Vikingsson, Gisli Olafsdottir, Droplaug Aguilar, Alex |
author_sort |
Arregui, Marina |
title |
Stable isotope analysis of fecal material provides insight into the diet of fin whales |
title_short |
Stable isotope analysis of fecal material provides insight into the diet of fin whales |
title_full |
Stable isotope analysis of fecal material provides insight into the diet of fin whales |
title_fullStr |
Stable isotope analysis of fecal material provides insight into the diet of fin whales |
title_full_unstemmed |
Stable isotope analysis of fecal material provides insight into the diet of fin whales |
title_sort |
stable isotope analysis of fecal material provides insight into the diet of fin whales |
publisher |
0824-0469 |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10553/42414 https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12504 |
genre |
Balaenoptera physalus Fin whale Iceland |
genre_facet |
Balaenoptera physalus Fin whale Iceland |
op_source |
Marine Mammal Science [ISSN 0824-0469], v. 34 (4), p. 1059-1069 |
op_relation |
Marine Mammal Science 34 0824-0469 http://hdl.handle.net/10553/42414 doi:10.1111/mms.12504 85044391084 000448183700009 4 Sí |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12504 |
container_title |
Marine Mammal Science |
container_volume |
34 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
1059 |
op_container_end_page |
1069 |
_version_ |
1766367007106662400 |