1. Lipid normalization and stable isotope discrimination in Pacific walrus tissues.
- Author
-
Clark CT, Horstmann L, and Misarti N
- Subjects
- Animals, Bone and Bones chemistry, Collagen chemistry, Diet, Female, Food Chain, Liver chemistry, Male, Muscles chemistry, Pacific Ocean, Skin chemistry, Carbon Isotopes analysis, Lipids analysis, Nitrogen Isotopes analysis, Walruses
- Abstract
Analysis of stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values (δ
13 C and δ15 N) of animal tissues can provide important information about diet, physiology, and movements. Interpretation of δ13 C and δ15 N values, however, is influenced by factors such as sample lipid content, tissue-specific isotope discrimination, and tissue turnover rates, which are typically species- and tissue-specific. In this study, we generated lipid normalization models for δ13 C and investigated the effects of chemical lipid extractions on δ13 C and δ15 N in Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) muscle, liver, and skin. We also evaluated tissue-specific isotope discrimination in walrus muscle, liver, skin, and bone collagen. Mean δ13 Clipid-free of skin and bone collagen were similar, as were mean δ15 N of muscle and liver. All other tissues differed significantly for both isotopes. Differences in δ13 Clipid-free and δ15 N among tissues agreed with published estimates of marine mammal tissue-specific isotope discrimination factors, with the exception of skin. The results of this work will allow researchers to gain a clearer understanding of walrus diet and the structure of Arctic food webs, while also making it possible to directly compare the results of contemporary walrus isotope research with those of historic and paleoecological studies.- Published
- 2019
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