| Isotopic segregation between sympatric seabird species increases with nutritional stress. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 22171022 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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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 δ(15)N and δ(13)C 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. |
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Authors:
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Christopher P Barger; Alexander S Kitaysky |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Date: 2011-12-14 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Biology letters Volume: 8 ISSN: 1744-957X ISO Abbreviation: Biol. Lett. Publication Date: 2012 Jun |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2012-05-14 Completed Date: 2012-09-11 Revised Date: 2013-04-16 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 101247722 Medline TA: Biol Lett Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 442-5 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Biology and Wildlife, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA. cpbarger@alaska.edu |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Carbon / blood* Carbon Isotopes / blood Charadriiformes / physiology* Competitive Behavior Corticosterone / blood* Food Preferences* Nitrogen / blood* Nitrogen Isotopes / blood Seasons Species Specificity Stress, Physiological Sympatry |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Carbon Isotopes; 0/Nitrogen Isotopes; 50-22-6/Corticosterone; 7440-44-0/Carbon; 7727-37-9/Nitrogen |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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