Use of amino acid isotope analysis to investigate capital versus income breeding strategies in migratory avian species
Abstract Income and capital breeding represent opposing ends of a continuum of reproductive strategies. Quantifying nutrient allocation to reproduction is challenging, but recent advances in compound‐specific stable isotope analysis hold promise for tracing the source of individual compounds allocat...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Methods in Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.14150 |
| _version_ | 1797692028121776128 |
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| author | Nico Lübcker John P. Whiteman Oliver N. Shipley Keith A. Hobson Seth D. Newsome |
| author_facet | Nico Lübcker John P. Whiteman Oliver N. Shipley Keith A. Hobson Seth D. Newsome |
| author_sort | Nico Lübcker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Income and capital breeding represent opposing ends of a continuum of reproductive strategies. Quantifying nutrient allocation to reproduction is challenging, but recent advances in compound‐specific stable isotope analysis hold promise for tracing the source of individual compounds allocated to reproduction. Here, we describe a novel approach of using measured carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope values of individual amino acids (AAs) in pectoral muscle of egg‐laying females and egg yolk as a useful tool to quantify the reliance on income versus capital breeding in migrating species. We used white‐fronted (Anser albifrons frontalis), lesser snow (A. caerulescens caerulescens) and black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) geese breeding in tundra ecosystems of northern Alaska as model organisms. All three species relied on mixed capital–income breeding strategies, but models based on AA isotope data estimated higher proportional contributions of endogenous resources to yolk synthesis compared to results based on bulk tissue isotope analyses. Tracing income versus capital nutrient allocation in migratory species at the compound level is a major advance from the current ‘elemental’ perspective obtained from bulk tissue stable isotope analyses. Our framework is applicable to all taxonomic groups, as long as there is a sufficient spatial or temporal isotopic gradient between resources obtained during the breeding and non‐breeding periods. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T02:21:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0f5f8895c3204e5a988b83599afea15d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-210X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T02:21:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Methods in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-0f5f8895c3204e5a988b83599afea15d2023-09-06T04:43:40ZengWileyMethods in Ecology and Evolution2041-210X2023-09-011492421243410.1111/2041-210X.14150Use of amino acid isotope analysis to investigate capital versus income breeding strategies in migratory avian speciesNico Lübcker0John P. Whiteman1Oliver N. Shipley2Keith A. Hobson3Seth D. Newsome4Department of Biology University of New Mexico Albuquerque New Mexico USADepartment of Biological Sciences Old Dominion University Norfolk Virginia USADepartment of Biology University of New Mexico Albuquerque New Mexico USAEnvironment and Climate Change Canada Saskatoon Saskatchewan CanadaDepartment of Biology University of New Mexico Albuquerque New Mexico USAAbstract Income and capital breeding represent opposing ends of a continuum of reproductive strategies. Quantifying nutrient allocation to reproduction is challenging, but recent advances in compound‐specific stable isotope analysis hold promise for tracing the source of individual compounds allocated to reproduction. Here, we describe a novel approach of using measured carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope values of individual amino acids (AAs) in pectoral muscle of egg‐laying females and egg yolk as a useful tool to quantify the reliance on income versus capital breeding in migrating species. We used white‐fronted (Anser albifrons frontalis), lesser snow (A. caerulescens caerulescens) and black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) geese breeding in tundra ecosystems of northern Alaska as model organisms. All three species relied on mixed capital–income breeding strategies, but models based on AA isotope data estimated higher proportional contributions of endogenous resources to yolk synthesis compared to results based on bulk tissue isotope analyses. Tracing income versus capital nutrient allocation in migratory species at the compound level is a major advance from the current ‘elemental’ perspective obtained from bulk tissue stable isotope analyses. Our framework is applicable to all taxonomic groups, as long as there is a sufficient spatial or temporal isotopic gradient between resources obtained during the breeding and non‐breeding periods.https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.14150biomonitoringbreeding strategycompound‐specific stable isotope analysisegg productionresource allocation |
| spellingShingle | Nico Lübcker John P. Whiteman Oliver N. Shipley Keith A. Hobson Seth D. Newsome Use of amino acid isotope analysis to investigate capital versus income breeding strategies in migratory avian species Methods in Ecology and Evolution biomonitoring breeding strategy compound‐specific stable isotope analysis egg production resource allocation |
| title | Use of amino acid isotope analysis to investigate capital versus income breeding strategies in migratory avian species |
| title_full | Use of amino acid isotope analysis to investigate capital versus income breeding strategies in migratory avian species |
| title_fullStr | Use of amino acid isotope analysis to investigate capital versus income breeding strategies in migratory avian species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Use of amino acid isotope analysis to investigate capital versus income breeding strategies in migratory avian species |
| title_short | Use of amino acid isotope analysis to investigate capital versus income breeding strategies in migratory avian species |
| title_sort | use of amino acid isotope analysis to investigate capital versus income breeding strategies in migratory avian species |
| topic | biomonitoring breeding strategy compound‐specific stable isotope analysis egg production resource allocation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.14150 |
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