| Yolk carotenoids and stable isotopes reveal links among environment, foraging behavior and seabird breeding success. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20397031 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Nutrients that are limited in availability, such as carotenoids, are potentially involved in trade-offs between homeostasis and reproduction. Despite their importance, factors that affect the capacity of female birds to meet their carotenoid requirements are poorly understood. We used delta(15)N stable isotope analysis to relate foraging behavior to yolk carotenoid deposition in two seabirds, Cassin's auklet (Ptychoramphus aleuticus) and rhinoceros auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata), during each of five years. As expected from their narrower trophic range, Cassin's auklets produced yolks with fewer carotenoid types than did rhinoceros auklets (one vs. three). Cassin's auklets also fed on a lower trophic level diet richer in carotenoids, yet had lower total yolk carotenoid levels, which suggests a role for species-specific adaptations for carotenoid uptake and utilization. Within both species, lower trophic-level feeding was linked to higher yolk carotenoid levels, but through different mechanisms. In Cassin's auklets, it was due to a population-wide response to environmental variation: in warm-water years, all females fed at a low trophic level and produced carotenoid-rich yolks. In rhinoceros auklets, it was due to individual differences similarly expressed in all years: females fed across a wide trophic range, and those that fed at a low trophic level produced carotenoid-rich yolks. Rhinoceros auklets bred more successfully in years when their yolks were rich in carotenoids, probably due to a correlated response to stronger marine primary production. Our results are novel because they link avian yolk carotenoid deposition to behavioral and environmental variations. |
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Authors:
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J Mark Hipfner; James Dale; Kevin J McGraw |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Date: 2010-04-16 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Oecologia Volume: 163 ISSN: 1432-1939 ISO Abbreviation: Oecologia Publication Date: 2010 Jun |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-05-17 Completed Date: 2010-08-30 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0150372 Medline TA: Oecologia Country: Germany |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 351-60 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Centre for Wildlife Ecology, Simon Fraser University, Canadian Wildlife Service, RR#1 5421 Robertson Road, Delta, BC, V4K 3N2, Canada. mark.hipfner@ec.gc.ca |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Anseriformes Birds / physiology* British Columbia Carbon Isotopes Carotenoids / chemistry*, metabolism* Charadriiformes Egg Yolk / chemistry* Environment* Feeding Behavior / physiology* Female Nitrogen Isotopes Reproduction / physiology* Time Factors |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Carbon Isotopes; 0/Nitrogen Isotopes; 36-88-4/Carotenoids |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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