Investigating the link between morphological characteristics and diet in an island population of omnivorous reptiles (Sphenodon punctatus)
The morphological characteristics that impact feeding ecology in ectotherms, particularly reptiles, are poorly understood. We used morphometric measures and stable isotope analysis (carbon-13 and nitrogen-15) to assess the link between diet and functional morphology in an island population of an evo...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Company of Biologists
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Biology Open |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://bio.biologists.org/content/11/10/bio059393 |
| _version_ | 1828134282706550784 |
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| author | Sarah K. Lamar Joseph T. Altobelli Nicola J. Nelson Diane K. Ormsby |
| author_facet | Sarah K. Lamar Joseph T. Altobelli Nicola J. Nelson Diane K. Ormsby |
| author_sort | Sarah K. Lamar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The morphological characteristics that impact feeding ecology in ectotherms, particularly reptiles, are poorly understood. We used morphometric measures and stable isotope analysis (carbon-13 and nitrogen-15) to assess the link between diet and functional morphology in an island population of an evolutionarily unique reptile, the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus). First, we established a significant positive correlation between overall body size, gape size, and fat store in tuatara (n=56). Next, we describe the relationship between stable isotope profiles created from whole blood and nail trim samples and demonstrate that nail trims offer a low-impact method of creating a long-term dietary profile in ectotherms. We used nitrogen-15 values to assess trophic level in the population and found that tuatara on Takapourewa forage across multiple trophic levels. Finally, we found a significant relationship between gape size and carbon-13 (linear regression: P<0.001), with tuatara with large gapes showing dietary profiles that suggest a higher intake of marine (seabird) prey. However, whether body size or gape size is the primary adaptive characteristic allowing for more optimal foraging is yet unknown. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T17:31:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eb90605f2f3644b598dff1a2adbcae88 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2046-6390 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T17:31:46Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | The Company of Biologists |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-eb90605f2f3644b598dff1a2adbcae882022-12-22T04:12:00ZengThe Company of BiologistsBiology Open2046-63902022-10-01111010.1242/bio.059393059393Investigating the link between morphological characteristics and diet in an island population of omnivorous reptiles (Sphenodon punctatus)Sarah K. Lamar0Joseph T. Altobelli1Nicola J. Nelson2Diane K. Ormsby3 School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand Zoology Department, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand The morphological characteristics that impact feeding ecology in ectotherms, particularly reptiles, are poorly understood. We used morphometric measures and stable isotope analysis (carbon-13 and nitrogen-15) to assess the link between diet and functional morphology in an island population of an evolutionarily unique reptile, the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus). First, we established a significant positive correlation between overall body size, gape size, and fat store in tuatara (n=56). Next, we describe the relationship between stable isotope profiles created from whole blood and nail trim samples and demonstrate that nail trims offer a low-impact method of creating a long-term dietary profile in ectotherms. We used nitrogen-15 values to assess trophic level in the population and found that tuatara on Takapourewa forage across multiple trophic levels. Finally, we found a significant relationship between gape size and carbon-13 (linear regression: P<0.001), with tuatara with large gapes showing dietary profiles that suggest a higher intake of marine (seabird) prey. However, whether body size or gape size is the primary adaptive characteristic allowing for more optimal foraging is yet unknown. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.http://bio.biologists.org/content/11/10/bio059393diet analysisfeeding ecologyforaging theoryreptile dietsphenodon punctatusstable isotope analysistuatara |
| spellingShingle | Sarah K. Lamar Joseph T. Altobelli Nicola J. Nelson Diane K. Ormsby Investigating the link between morphological characteristics and diet in an island population of omnivorous reptiles (Sphenodon punctatus) Biology Open diet analysis feeding ecology foraging theory reptile diet sphenodon punctatus stable isotope analysis tuatara |
| title | Investigating the link between morphological characteristics and diet in an island population of omnivorous reptiles (Sphenodon punctatus) |
| title_full | Investigating the link between morphological characteristics and diet in an island population of omnivorous reptiles (Sphenodon punctatus) |
| title_fullStr | Investigating the link between morphological characteristics and diet in an island population of omnivorous reptiles (Sphenodon punctatus) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating the link between morphological characteristics and diet in an island population of omnivorous reptiles (Sphenodon punctatus) |
| title_short | Investigating the link between morphological characteristics and diet in an island population of omnivorous reptiles (Sphenodon punctatus) |
| title_sort | investigating the link between morphological characteristics and diet in an island population of omnivorous reptiles sphenodon punctatus |
| topic | diet analysis feeding ecology foraging theory reptile diet sphenodon punctatus stable isotope analysis tuatara |
| url | http://bio.biologists.org/content/11/10/bio059393 |
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