Sequential analysis of δ¹⁵ N in guard hair suggests late gestation is the most critical period for muskox calf recruitment.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Analysis of stable isotopes in tissue and excreta may provide information about animal diets and their nutritional state. As body condition may have a major influence on reproduction, linking stable isotope values to animal demographic rates may help unravel the drivers behind animal population dynamics.

Methods

We performed sequential analysis of δ¹⁵ N values in guard hair from 21 muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) from Zackenberg in high arctic Greenland. We were able to reconstruct the dietary history for the population over a 5-year period with contrasting environmental conditions. We examined the linkage between guard hair δ¹⁵ N values in 12 three-month periods and muskox calf recruitment to detect critical periods for muskox reproduction. Final

SUBMITTER: Schmidt NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10078194 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature