Using stable isotopes to trace resource acquisition and trophic position in four Afrotropical birds with different diets

0349406 - ÚBO 2011 RIV ZA eng J - Journal Article
Procházka, Petr - Reif, J. - Hořák, D. - Klvaňa, P. - Lee, R. W. - Yohannes, E.
Using stable isotopes to trace resource acquisition and trophic position in four Afrotropical birds with different diets.
Ostrich. Roč. 81, č. 3 (2010), s. 273-275. ISSN 0030-6525. E-ISSN 1727-947X
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT LC06073
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60930519
Keywords : stable isotope analysis * dietary niche * Cameroon Mountains
Subject RIV: EG - Zoology
Impact factor: 0.338, year: 2010

Here we test the potential of stable carbon isotopes to ascertain the relative contribution of primary carbon sources and the potential of stable nitrogen isotopes to assess the foodweb trophic level in four Afrotropical birds, each representing the following types of consumers: frugivorous (Andropadus tephrolaemus), nectarivorous (Cinnyris reichenowi), granivorous (Estrilda nonnula), and insectivorous (Cisticola chubbi). The four species largely differed in their feather isotope values. In agreement with their known habitat preferences, stable carbon isotopes showed that the frugivore and the nectarivore relied mostly on C3 plant dietary sources, whereas both the granivore and the insectivore depended on diet originating from a higher proportion of C4 plant-based food. Stable nitrogen isotopes confirmed the expected trophic positions of the four species. Both stable isotope tracers suggested that the granivore occupies a considerably wide isotopic niche relative to the other species.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0189657