Ontogenetic changes in feeding habits of northern elephant seals revealed by δ15N and δ13C analysis of growth layers in teeth

Riofrío-Lazo, Marjorie; Aurioles‐Gamboa, David; Bœuf, Burney J. Le

doi:10.3354/meps09562

Cited by 33 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…), northern elephant seals (Riofrio‐Lazo et al . ), and beluga whales (Matthews and Ferguson ) but comparable to those of terrestrial mammals that produced milk with δ 15 N values lower by 1‰ relative to the maternal plasma (Jenkins et al . ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…), and northern elephant seals ( Mirounga angustirostris ) (Riofrio‐Lazo et al . ). In species where annual dentin layers can be extracted and analyzed for stable isotopes, age‐specific variations in δ 15 N values can also be used to estimate weaning age ( e.g ., Newsome et al .…”

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confidence: 97%

“…Baseline values are often approximated using the mean δ 15 N value of adult females (Riofrio‐Lazo et al . , Fahy et al . ), based on the assumption that offspring are weaned onto a diet similar to that of their mothers before they begin foraging independently.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Annual variability in dentin δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C reveal sex differences in weaning age and feeding habits in Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus)

Evacitas

Kao

Worthy

et al. 2017

Marine Mammal Science

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Teeth of odontocetes accumulate annual dentinal growth layer groups (GLGs) that record isotope ratios, which reflect the time of their synthesis. Collectively, they provide lifetime records of individual feeding patterns from which life history traits can be inferred. We subsampled the prenatal dentin and postnatal GLGs in Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) (n = 65) that stranded or were collected as bycatch in Taiwan (1994–2014) and analyzed them for δ15N and δ13C. Age‐specific δ15N and δ13C values were corrected for effects of calendar year, stranding site, C/N, and sex. δ15N values were higher in prenatal layers (14.94‰ ± 0.74‰) than in adult female GLGs (12.58‰ ± 0.20‰), suggesting fetal enrichment during gestation. Decreasing δ15N values in early GLGs suggested changes in dietary protein sources during transition to complete weaning. Weaning age was earlier in males (1.09 yr) than in females (1.81 yr). Significant differences in δ15N values between weaned males and females suggest potential sexual segregation in feeding habits. δ13C values increased from the prenatal to the 4th GLG by ~1.0‰, indicative of a diet shift from 13C‐depleted milk to prey items. Our results provide novel insights into the sex‐specific ontogenetic changes in feeding patterns and some life history traits of Risso's dolphins.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

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confidence: 97%

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Annual variability in dentin δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C reveal sex differences in weaning age and feeding habits in Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus)

Evacitas

Kao

Worthy

et al. 2017

Marine Mammal Science

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“…In the case of dentin samples, each of the growth layer groups (GLGs) was collected using a high precision drill Micro-Mill System , Riofrío-Lazo et al 2012). The process included dentin samples from California sea lions collected from rookeries along the GC to characterize their isotope values per rookery as well as regions along the GC.…”

Section: Bone and Dentinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat, trophic level, and residence of marine mammals in the Gulf of California assessed by stable isotope analysis

Aurioles‐Gamboa¹,

Rodríguez-Pérez²,

Sánchez‐Velásco³

et al. 2013

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Approximately 32 species of marine mammals of the Gulf of California (GC) share habitat and resources in this ecosystem. Unusually high δ 15 N values at the base of the food web in the GC permeate up all trophic levels, distinguishing the isotopic signature of the GC from other ecosystems in the Eastern North Pacific. Values of δ 13 C and δ 15 N were acquired from particulate organic matter (POM) of surface sediment, zooplankton, mollusks, crustaceans, fish, and marine mammals in the GC to construct a general trophic structure and were complemented with additional isotope data from the literature. Aims were to: estimate marine mammal trophic levels and habitat preferences; distinguish between GC residents and visitors; and assess potential trophic overlap among the most common and abundant cetacean species. Trophic level 1 (TL1), represented by POM, showed average (± SD) δ 13 C and δ 15 N values of −21.4 ± 0.5 ‰ and 9.6 ± 0.7 ‰, bulk zooplankton (TL2) showed −18.8 ± 0.7 ‰ and 11.8 ± 1.4 ‰, while TL3, represented by baleen whales, some fish, squid, and seabirds, showed δ 13 C values between −13 and −16 ‰ and δ 15 N values between 16.5 and 20 ‰. Marine mammals occupied the entire coastal and pelagic isotope gradient (δ 13 C values from −12 to −18.1 ‰), with most of the species at TL4 (δ 15 N values from 17 to 23 ‰), whereas Orcinus orca occupied TL5 (25.8 ‰ maximum value). The odontocetes Mesoplodon peruvianus, Globicephala macrorhynchus, Grampus griseus, Kogia sima, Delphinus delphis, D. capensis, and Tursiops truncatus had both GC resident and visitor representatives, and the latter 3 species showed a significant degree of trophic and habitat overlap. KEY WORDS: Trophic levels · Habitats · Stable isotope analysis · Marine mammalsResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher LITERATURE CITED

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“…Hobson & Sease, 1998;Mendes et al, 2007a, b;Martin et al, 2011;Riofrío-Lazo et al, 2012), as well as individual diet preferences (e.g. Newsome et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Spatial segregation and similar trophic-level diet among eastern Canadian Arctic/north-west Atlantic killer whales inferred from bulk and compound specific isotopic analysis

Matthews

Ferguson

2013

J. Mar. Biol. Ass.

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Killer whales in the Eastern Canadian Arctic (ECA) prey on narwhal, beluga, bowhead whales and seals, while further south in the north-west Atlantic (NWA), killer whales off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador prey on both marine mammals and fish. Bulk and amino acid (AA) specific isotopic composition of dentinal collagen in teeth of 13 ECA/NWA killer whales were analysed to assess the degree, if any, of dietary specialization of killer whales across the region. Dentine was sampled from within annual growth layer groups (GLGs) to construct chronological profiles of stable nitrogen (d 15 N) and carbon (d 13 C) isotopic compositions for individual whales spanning 3-25 years. Interannual isotopic variation across GLGs was less than that among individuals, and median bulk d 15 N values differed by up to 5‰ among individuals. Significant correlation between bulk d 15 N values and baseline (source AA) d 15 N values indicates much of the observed isotopic variation among individuals reflects foraging within isotopically distinct food webs, rather than diet differences. This interpretation is supported by consistent differences in bulk d 13 C values between the two individuals with lowest source AA d 15 N values and the remaining whales. After accounting for baseline isotopic variation, comparable d 15 N values among individuals indicates similar trophic-level diet, although uncertainties in relative trophic 15 N enrichment of individual AAs currently limits trophic position estimates for top consumers. Further research is required to clarify seasonal movement patterns and possible diet shifts of ECA/NWA killer whales to better define their role in marine ecosystems across the region.

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Ontogenetic changes in feeding habits of northern elephant seals revealed by δ15N and δ13C analysis of growth layers in teeth

Cited by 33 publications

References 75 publications

Annual variability in dentin δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C reveal sex differences in weaning age and feeding habits in Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus)

Annual variability in dentin δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C reveal sex differences in weaning age and feeding habits in Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus)

Habitat, trophic level, and residence of marine mammals in the Gulf of California assessed by stable isotope analysis

Spatial segregation and similar trophic-level diet among eastern Canadian Arctic/north-west Atlantic killer whales inferred from bulk and compound specific isotopic analysis

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Ontogenetic changes in feeding habits of northern elephant seals revealed by δ15N and δ13C analysis of growth layers in teeth

Cited by 33 publications

References 75 publications

Annual variability in dentin δ15N and δ13C reveal sex differences in weaning age and feeding habits in Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus)

Annual variability in dentin δ15N and δ13C reveal sex differences in weaning age and feeding habits in Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus)

Habitat, trophic level, and residence of marine mammals in the Gulf of California assessed by stable isotope analysis

Spatial segregation and similar trophic-level diet among eastern Canadian Arctic/north-west Atlantic killer whales inferred from bulk and compound specific isotopic analysis

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Product

Resources

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Annual variability in dentin δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C reveal sex differences in weaning age and feeding habits in Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus)

Annual variability in dentin δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C reveal sex differences in weaning age and feeding habits in Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus)