INTRAFEATHER AND INTRAINDIVIDUAL VARIATION IN THE STABLE-HYDROGEN ISOTOPE (δD) CONTENT OF RAPTOR FEATHERS

Autor:	Adam D. Smith, Kara C. Donohue, Alfred M. Dufty
Rok vydání:	2008
Předmět:	animal structures Isotope Stable isotope ratio Ecology Hydrogen isotope Feather visual_art visual_art.visual_art_medium food and beverages Animal Science and Zoology Biology Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics Flight feather
Zdroj:	The Condor. 110:500-506
ISSN:	1938-5129 0010-5422
DOI:	10.1525/cond.2008.8515
Popis:	Stable-hydrogen isotope ratios (deuterium:protium; δD) in feathers enable researchers to evaluate patterns of avian movement and to estimate the source areas of migratory birds. However, variation in feather δD remains inadequately described, thus confounding inferences of avian movement and origin. We assessed variation within a feather and among feathers within and between tracts in three species of immature raptors. Within contour feathers, measurements of δD increased from a distal section to an adjacent, proximal section; the magnitude of δD increase varied with raptor species. Furthermore, contour and flight feathers differed systematically in their δD content. Two explanations for intrafeather and intraindividual variation warrant further investigation: (1) hydrogen isotope fractionation associated with feather growth rate, and (2) the incorporation of temporal variation in environmental δD into growing feathers. We consider these explanations for raptors and passerines, which seemingly di...
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::e34f6c15d5db0475f89e1e52921c63d0 https://doi.org/10.1525/cond.2008.8515 Zobrazit plný text záznamu