Tracing origins and migration of wildlife using stable isotopes: a review |
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Authors: | Keith A Hobson |
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Institution: | (1) Prairie and Northern Wildlife Research Center, Canadian Wildlife Service, 115 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 0X4, Canada e-mail: keith.hobson@ec.gc.ca, Fax: +1306-9754089, CA |
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Abstract: | To understand the ecology of migratory animals it is important to link geographic regions used by individuals including breeding,
wintering, and intermediate stopover sites. Previous conventional approaches used to track animal movements have relied on
extrinsic markers and typically the subsequent recovery of individuals. This approach has generally been inappropriate for
most small, or non-game animals. The use of intrinsic markers such as fatty acid profiles, molecular DNA analyses, and the
measurement of naturally occurring stable isotopes in animal tissues offer alternative approaches. This paper reviews the
use of stable isotope analyses (primarily δ13C, δ15N, δ34S, δD, δ87Sr) to trace nutritional origin and migration in animals. This approach relies on the fact that foodweb isotopic signatures
are reflected in the tissues of organisms and that such signatures can vary spatially based on a variety of biogeochemical
processes. Organisms moving between isotopically distinct foodwebs can carry with them information on the location of previous
feeding. Such an approach has been used to track animal use of inshore versus offshore, marine versus freshwater, terrestrial
C3 versus marine, terrestrial mesic versus xeric, and C3 versus C4 or Crassulacean acid metabolism foodwebs. More recently, the use of stable hydrogen isotope analyses (δD) to link organisms
to broad geographic origin in North America is based on large-scale isotopic contours of growing-season average δD values
in precipitation. This technique, especially when combined with the assay of other stable isotopes, will be extremely useful
in helping to track migration and movement of a wide range of animals from insects to birds and mammals. Future research to
refine our understanding of natural and anthropogenic-induced isotopic gradients in nature, and to explore the use of stable
isotopes of other elements, is recommended.
Received: 1 July 1998 / Accepted: 9 December 1998 |
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Keywords: | Migration Natal origin Stable isotopes |
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