Biofilm and invertebrate consumption by western sandpipers (Calidris mauri) and dunlin (Calidris alpina) during spring migratory stopover: insights from tissue and breath CO₂ isotopic (δ ¹³C, δ ¹⁵N) analyses.

ABSTRACT: Shorebirds use key migratory stopover habitats in spring and fall where body proteins are replenished and lipids stored as fuel for the remaining journey. The Fraser River estuary, British Columbia, Canada, is a critical spring stopover site for hundreds of thousands of migrating western sandpiper, Calidris mauri, and dunlin, Calidris alpina. Intertidal biofilm in spring is an important nutritional source for western sandpiper, with previous isotopic research predicting 45-59% of total diet and 50% of total energy needs. However, these studies relied on isotopic mixing models that did not consider metabolic routing of key dietary macromolecules. Complexity arises due to the mixed macromolecular composition of biofilm that is difficult to characterize isotopically. We expanded

SUBMITTER: Hobson KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8857455 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature