Stable isotope discrimination factors and between-tissue isotope comparisons for bone and skin from captive and wild green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas).

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

The ecological application of stable isotope analysis (SIA) relies on taxa- and tissue-specific stable carbon (Δ¹³ C) and nitrogen (Δ¹⁵ N) isotope discrimination factors, determined with captive animals reared on known diets for sufficient time to reflect dietary isotope ratios. However, captive studies often prohibit lethal sampling, are difficult with endangered species, and reflect conditions not experienced in the wild.

Methods

We overcame these constraints and determined the Δ¹³ C and Δ¹⁵ N values for skin and cortical bone from green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) that died in captivity and evaluated the utility of a mathematical approach to predict discrimination factors. Using stable carbon (δ¹³ C values)

SUBMITTER: Turner Tomaszewicz CN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5653449 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature