Collagen-to-collagen prey-predator isotopic enrichment (Δ13C, Δ15N) in terrestrial mammals - a case study of a subfossil red fox den

Krajcarz, Maciej T.; Krajcarz, Magdalena; Bocherens, Hervé

doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2017.11.044

Cited by 26 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…The research material for this study consists of subfossil bones of free‐living red foxes and a variety of their prey collected in abandoned mine shafts in Potok‐Senderki, Poland. Details about the site and discussion about the usefulness of the collection for the study of isotopic fractionation in terrestrial food webs have been provided in previously …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Here we used the same collagen extracts that we used previously for the δ 13 C and δ 15 N analyses . From this material, we selected 30 samples for δ 34 S measurements, including 15 red fox samples and 15 samples of other animals representing variable types of prey (cat n = 1, badger n = 1, adult hare n = 3, juvenile lagomorph n = 3, adult/subadult roe deer n = 3, juvenile roe deer n = 3 and domestic chicken n = 3, Table ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We used samples with sufficient collagen left after the former δ 13 C and δ 15 N analyses. The sampling, pretreatment, collagen extraction and extraction quality control were described in a previous paper for which a well‐established protocol was followed …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among them, bone collagen is of major importance, as this material is relatively common and well preserved at Holocene and Upper Pleistocene sites. Until now, it is mostly carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios that have been applied in studies of isotopic trophic enrichment and the TEFs for δ 13 C and δ 15 N values are well established for terrestrial mammals . Although sulfur is also an important component of collagen, our knowledge of isotopic discrimination between sulfur in a consumer's diet and in a consumer's tissues remains insufficient.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a previous study, we were able to establish the TEF for carbon and nitrogen in red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) thanks to a unique accumulation of subfossil bones of this predator and the wide spectrum of its prey, all accumulated in an underground fox den in an abandoned mine . The same material can also be used for the analysis of the TEF for sulfur isotope ratios.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prey‐to‐fox isotopic enrichment of ³⁴S in bone collagen: Implications for paleoecological studies

Krajcarz

Drucker

et al. 2019

Rapid Comm Mass Spectrometry

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Rationale:The trophic enrichment factor (TEF) is a parameter reflecting the difference in isotopic ratio between a consumer's tissues and diet, used in isotopic ecology and paleoecology to track dietary habits. The TEF of sulfur is believed to be low, but was, until now, only documented in a limited number of taxa. In this study we use a subfossil accumulation of bones from a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) den to verify the TEF for sulfur in fox bone collagen. Methods: Collagen was extracted from 30 samples of subfossil bones, includingfoxes and their prey. The δ 34 S values of the bone collagen samples were measured with an elemental analyzer connected to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. The TEF was calculated as [Δ 34 S = (mean δ 34 S in predator) -(mean δ 34 S in prey)], using taphonomic indices to estimate the mean diet, and calculated separately for different age classes of the predator. Results:We modeled 12 variants of TEF for different estimations of the diet composition and for three fox age classes (adult, subadult, and juvenile). The estimated TEF values range from −0.54 to +0.03‰ and are similar to TEFs known for other mammals. Absolute TEF values are nearly equal to or lower than the analytical error, which is ±0.4‰. Conclusions:For the first time, we present direct δ 34 S data for the bone collagen of a free-living predator and its naturally selected prey. Our results indicate very low or even slightly negative TEF values for sulfur. Furthermore, according to our results, the δ 34 S value should not be considered a reliable indicator of trophic position in terrestrial food webs but rather, it should be used to disentangle different food webs based on different primary producers.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Prey‐to‐fox isotopic enrichment of ³⁴S in bone collagen: Implications for paleoecological studies

Krajcarz

Drucker

et al. 2019

Rapid Comm Mass Spectrometry

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Changing food webs before and during the Last Glacial Maximum based on stable isotopes of animal bone collagen from Lower Austria

Reiss

Mayr

Pasda

et al. 2023

J Quaternary Science

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We investigated palaeofood web structures using stable isotope analyses on animal bone collagen from four Upper Palaeolithic sites dated to the Early Gravettian (Krems‐Hundssteig and Krems‐Wachtberg: 33–31k cal a bp, Langenlois: 31–29k cal a bp) and to the Early Epigravettian (Kammern‐Grubgraben: 24–20k cal a bp). In both periods, δ13C values show niche partitioning between hare, horse and mammoth on one side, and reindeer and ibex on the other, indicating different diets and habitats between both herbivore groups. The δ15N differences between carnivores and herbivores suggest a difference of one trophic level during the pre‐Last Glacial Maximum (pre‐LGM) period at the Early Gravettian sites and a tendency towards secondary carnivores during the LGM at Kammern‐Grubgraben. δ15N values of pre‐LGM mammoths are elevated in relation to other herbivores but shifted to the level of other herbivores in the LGM. A general δ15N value shift in herbivores of 3.3‰ from the pre‐LGM to the LGM is related to climatic deterioration. This may have led to the disappearance of certain ecological niches and to a shift from broader to overlapping ecological herbivore niches shortly before the LGM, as demonstrated by SIBER analyses.

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Dietary variation in Icelandic arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) over a period of 30 years assessed through stable isotopes

et al. 2019

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Identifying resources driving long-term trends in predators is important to understand ecosystem changes and to manage populations in the context of conservation or control.The arctic fox population in Iceland has increased steadily over a period of 30 years, an increase that has been attributed to an overall increase in food abundance. We hypothesized that increasing populations of geese or seabirds were driving this growth. We analyzed stable isotopes in a long-term series of collagen samples to determine the role of these different resources. The isotopic signatures of arctic foxes differed consistently between coastal and inland habitats. Whereas δ 15 N displayed a non-linear change over time with a slight increase in the first part of the period followed by a decline in both habitats, δ 13 C was stable. Stable isotope mixing models suggested that marine resources and rock ptarmigan were the most important dietary sources, with marine resources dominating in coastal habitats and rock ptarmigan being more important inland. Our results suggest that seabirds may have been driving the arctic fox population increase. The rapidly increasing populations of breeding geese seem to have played a minor role in arctic fox population growth, as rock ptarmigan were the most important terrestrial resource despite a considerable decrease in their abundance during recent decades. This study shows that a long-term population trend in a generalist predator may have occurred without a pronounced change in main dietary resources, despite ongoing structural changes in the food web, where one species of herbivorous birds increased and another decreased.

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Collagen-to-collagen prey-predator isotopic enrichment (Δ13C, Δ15N) in terrestrial mammals - a case study of a subfossil red fox den

Cited by 26 publications

References 70 publications

Prey‐to‐fox isotopic enrichment of ³⁴S in bone collagen: Implications for paleoecological studies

Prey‐to‐fox isotopic enrichment of ³⁴S in bone collagen: Implications for paleoecological studies

Changing food webs before and during the Last Glacial Maximum based on stable isotopes of animal bone collagen from Lower Austria

Dietary variation in Icelandic arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) over a period of 30 years assessed through stable isotopes

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Collagen-to-collagen prey-predator isotopic enrichment (Δ13C, Δ15N) in terrestrial mammals - a case study of a subfossil red fox den

Cited by 26 publications

References 70 publications

Prey‐to‐fox isotopic enrichment of 34S in bone collagen: Implications for paleoecological studies

Prey‐to‐fox isotopic enrichment of 34S in bone collagen: Implications for paleoecological studies

Changing food webs before and during the Last Glacial Maximum based on stable isotopes of animal bone collagen from Lower Austria

Dietary variation in Icelandic arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) over a period of 30 years assessed through stable isotopes

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Prey‐to‐fox isotopic enrichment of ³⁴S in bone collagen: Implications for paleoecological studies

Prey‐to‐fox isotopic enrichment of ³⁴S in bone collagen: Implications for paleoecological studies