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Tissue-specific δ13C in ancient and modern tropical seabirds and flying fish in the Xisha Islands, South China Sea.

Authors :
Wu, Libin
Xu, Liqiang
Hou, Shengjie
Wang, Xueying
Fu, Pingqing
Liu, Xiaodong
Source :
Isotopes in Environmental & Health Studies. Oct2018, Vol. 54 Issue 5, p508-521. 14p.
Publication Year :
2018

Abstract

We analyzed 13C characteristics in samples of bird bones, feathers, eggshell carbonate and membrane from modern specimens of red-footed booby (Sula sula) as well as fish muscle, scales, and bones from its predominant food source, flying fish (Exocoetus volitans), and muscle from its secondary food source squid (Loligo chinensis), as well as in ancient sub-fossil samples of seabird and flying fish at the Xisha Islands, South China Sea. δ13C is tissue-specific in both seabirds and flying fish due to the variance in turn-over among the tissues and differences in the type and content of amino acids across a diverse range of tissues. The δ13C discrimination factors also differed significantly among the various tissues between tropical seabirds and their prey. A Suess effect, caused by fossil fuel combustion and the emission of carbon with fewer 13C isotopes, was observed in the bird and fish tissue from ancient to modern time. Our study provides a multiple variability index for δ13C in organisms along a food chain, and verifies that tissue-specific 13C analysis is essential to identify diet and species and thus is a valuable tool for research on tropical seabird ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
10256016
Volume :
54
Issue :
5
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Isotopes in Environmental & Health Studies
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
132084468
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1080/10256016.2018.1485675