BITS: A Bayesian Isotope Turnover and Sampling model for strontium isotopes in proboscideans and its potential utility in movement ecology

Abstract Strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) of incrementally grown tissues have been widely used to study movement ecology and migration of animals. However, the time scale of 87Sr/86Sr incorporation from the environment into tissue and how it may influence data interpretation are still poorly und...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Deming Yang, Gabriel J. Bowen, Kevin T. Uno, Katya Podkovyroff, Nancy A. Carpenter, Diego P. Fernandez, Thure E. Cerling
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-11-01
Series:Methods in Ecology and Evolution
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.14218
_version_ 1797643460433412096
author Deming Yang
Gabriel J. Bowen
Kevin T. Uno
Katya Podkovyroff
Nancy A. Carpenter
Diego P. Fernandez
Thure E. Cerling
author_facet Deming Yang
Gabriel J. Bowen
Kevin T. Uno
Katya Podkovyroff
Nancy A. Carpenter
Diego P. Fernandez
Thure E. Cerling
author_sort Deming Yang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) of incrementally grown tissues have been widely used to study movement ecology and migration of animals. However, the time scale of 87Sr/86Sr incorporation from the environment into tissue and how it may influence data interpretation are still poorly understood. Using the relocation of a zoo elephant (Loxodonta africana) named Misha, we characterise and model the 87Sr/86Sr turnover process using high‐resolution measurements of its tusk dentine. We seek to develop a framework that can improve quantitative interpretation of 87Sr/86Sr data in tissues. The 87Sr/86Sr transition associated with the relocation is measured using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) on a prepared tusk slab. We develop a turnover model (BITS), with a rapidly exchanging central pool and a slowly exchanging peripheral pool, in a Bayesian statistical framework. The measured dentine data are first used to calibrate model parameters. The parameters are then used to estimate possible 87Sr/86Sr input time series from two datasets via model inversion: a fidelity test using Misha's dentine data and a case study using published dentine measurements from an Alaskan Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius). The LA‐ICP‐MS data are consistent with a two‐compartment turnover process with equivalent half‐lives of 41 days for the central pool and 170 days for the peripheral pool. The model inversion shows good fidelity when estimating the intake 87Sr/86Sr time series associated with Misha's relocation. In the case study, the model suggests an abrupt pattern of change in, and a much wider range of, intake 87Sr/86Sr values than expressed in the woolly mammoth dentine data themselves. Our framework bridges the gap between environmental 87Sr/86Sr variation and data measured in tusk dentine or other incrementally grown tissues. It could be coupled with movement models and additional isotope tracers to study seasonal residency or the spatial and temporal patterns of movement/migration. The generic turnover processes can be adapted to other isotope systems, additional incremental tissues, or other organisms, thus expanding our modelling toolkit to investigate niche partitioning, life history traits and behavioural patterns in conservation biology, archaeology and paleoecology.
first_indexed 2024-03-11T14:16:11Z
format Article
id doaj.art-58a2aaf9567d4ab3ab998eb0308479e6
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2041-210X
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-11T14:16:11Z
publishDate 2023-11-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Methods in Ecology and Evolution
spelling doaj.art-58a2aaf9567d4ab3ab998eb0308479e62023-11-01T06:40:47ZengWileyMethods in Ecology and Evolution2041-210X2023-11-0114112800281310.1111/2041-210X.14218BITS: A Bayesian Isotope Turnover and Sampling model for strontium isotopes in proboscideans and its potential utility in movement ecologyDeming Yang0Gabriel J. Bowen1Kevin T. Uno2Katya Podkovyroff3Nancy A. Carpenter4Diego P. Fernandez5Thure E. Cerling6Department of Geology and Geophysics University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah USADepartment of Geology and Geophysics University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah USADepartment of Geology and Geophysics University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah USADepartment of Geology and Geophysics University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah USAUtah's Hogle Zoo Salt Lake City Utah USADepartment of Geology and Geophysics University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah USADepartment of Geology and Geophysics University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah USAAbstract Strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) of incrementally grown tissues have been widely used to study movement ecology and migration of animals. However, the time scale of 87Sr/86Sr incorporation from the environment into tissue and how it may influence data interpretation are still poorly understood. Using the relocation of a zoo elephant (Loxodonta africana) named Misha, we characterise and model the 87Sr/86Sr turnover process using high‐resolution measurements of its tusk dentine. We seek to develop a framework that can improve quantitative interpretation of 87Sr/86Sr data in tissues. The 87Sr/86Sr transition associated with the relocation is measured using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) on a prepared tusk slab. We develop a turnover model (BITS), with a rapidly exchanging central pool and a slowly exchanging peripheral pool, in a Bayesian statistical framework. The measured dentine data are first used to calibrate model parameters. The parameters are then used to estimate possible 87Sr/86Sr input time series from two datasets via model inversion: a fidelity test using Misha's dentine data and a case study using published dentine measurements from an Alaskan Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius). The LA‐ICP‐MS data are consistent with a two‐compartment turnover process with equivalent half‐lives of 41 days for the central pool and 170 days for the peripheral pool. The model inversion shows good fidelity when estimating the intake 87Sr/86Sr time series associated with Misha's relocation. In the case study, the model suggests an abrupt pattern of change in, and a much wider range of, intake 87Sr/86Sr values than expressed in the woolly mammoth dentine data themselves. Our framework bridges the gap between environmental 87Sr/86Sr variation and data measured in tusk dentine or other incrementally grown tissues. It could be coupled with movement models and additional isotope tracers to study seasonal residency or the spatial and temporal patterns of movement/migration. The generic turnover processes can be adapted to other isotope systems, additional incremental tissues, or other organisms, thus expanding our modelling toolkit to investigate niche partitioning, life history traits and behavioural patterns in conservation biology, archaeology and paleoecology.https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.1421887Sr/86Srelephantsisotope exchangemobilitymodellingtusk dentine
spellingShingle Deming Yang
Gabriel J. Bowen
Kevin T. Uno
Katya Podkovyroff
Nancy A. Carpenter
Diego P. Fernandez
Thure E. Cerling
BITS: A Bayesian Isotope Turnover and Sampling model for strontium isotopes in proboscideans and its potential utility in movement ecology
Methods in Ecology and Evolution
87Sr/86Sr
elephants
isotope exchange
mobility
modelling
tusk dentine
title BITS: A Bayesian Isotope Turnover and Sampling model for strontium isotopes in proboscideans and its potential utility in movement ecology
title_full BITS: A Bayesian Isotope Turnover and Sampling model for strontium isotopes in proboscideans and its potential utility in movement ecology
title_fullStr BITS: A Bayesian Isotope Turnover and Sampling model for strontium isotopes in proboscideans and its potential utility in movement ecology
title_full_unstemmed BITS: A Bayesian Isotope Turnover and Sampling model for strontium isotopes in proboscideans and its potential utility in movement ecology
title_short BITS: A Bayesian Isotope Turnover and Sampling model for strontium isotopes in proboscideans and its potential utility in movement ecology
title_sort bits a bayesian isotope turnover and sampling model for strontium isotopes in proboscideans and its potential utility in movement ecology
topic 87Sr/86Sr
elephants
isotope exchange
mobility
modelling
tusk dentine
url https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.14218
work_keys_str_mv AT demingyang bitsabayesianisotopeturnoverandsamplingmodelforstrontiumisotopesinproboscideansanditspotentialutilityinmovementecology
AT gabrieljbowen bitsabayesianisotopeturnoverandsamplingmodelforstrontiumisotopesinproboscideansanditspotentialutilityinmovementecology
AT kevintuno bitsabayesianisotopeturnoverandsamplingmodelforstrontiumisotopesinproboscideansanditspotentialutilityinmovementecology
AT katyapodkovyroff bitsabayesianisotopeturnoverandsamplingmodelforstrontiumisotopesinproboscideansanditspotentialutilityinmovementecology
AT nancyacarpenter bitsabayesianisotopeturnoverandsamplingmodelforstrontiumisotopesinproboscideansanditspotentialutilityinmovementecology
AT diegopfernandez bitsabayesianisotopeturnoverandsamplingmodelforstrontiumisotopesinproboscideansanditspotentialutilityinmovementecology
AT thureecerling bitsabayesianisotopeturnoverandsamplingmodelforstrontiumisotopesinproboscideansanditspotentialutilityinmovementecology