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Using stable isotopes to investigate the dietary trophic level of fledgling songbirds

2012; Association of Field Ornithologists; Volume: 83; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1557-9263.2011.00357.x

1557-9263

Andrew C. Vitz, Amanda D. Rodewald,

Marine animal studies overview

Journal of Field OrnithologyVolume 83, Issue 1 p. 73-84 Using stable isotopes to investigate the dietary trophic level of fledgling songbirds Uso de isotopos estables para investigar los niveles tróficos en la dienta de juveniles de aves paseriformes Andrew C. Vitz, Corresponding Author Andrew C. Vitz School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43202, USA Current address: Carnegie Museum of Natural History – Powdermill Avian Research Center, 1847 State Route 381, Rector, Pennsylvania 15677, USA. Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorAmanda D. Rodewald, Amanda D. Rodewald School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43202, USASearch for more papers by this author Andrew C. Vitz, Corresponding Author Andrew C. Vitz School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43202, USA Current address: Carnegie Museum of Natural History – Powdermill Avian Research Center, 1847 State Route 381, Rector, Pennsylvania 15677, USA. Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorAmanda D. Rodewald, Amanda D. Rodewald School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43202, USASearch for more papers by this author First published: 27 February 2012 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1557-9263.2011.00357.xCitations: 9 Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstracten ABSTRACT Use of early successional habitat by mature forest birds during the postfledging period is well documented, but reasons for this habitat shift remain elusive. Although forest-breeding songbirds are primarily insectivorous during the nestling and early fledgling periods due to high protein requirements, older fledglings may adopt a heavily frugivorous diet. Our objectives were to use stable isotopes to examine the dietary trophic level of juveniles of three species of mature forest songbirds to determine if juvenile songbirds heavily consume fruit resources during the postfledging period and to evaluate a possible link between diet and energetic condition. We collected the outer right rectrix and several body feathers from 34 Wood Thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina), 34 Ovenbirds (Seiurus aurocapilla), and 35 Scarlet Tanagers (Piranga olivacea) captured in regenerating clearcuts in southeastern Ohio in 2005 and 2006. We also collected fruit and arthropod samples from each clearcut. Isotopic values of body feathers were significantly higher (more enriched) than those of rectrices in all cases except values of δ13C for Ovenbirds where we found no difference between body and rectrix feathers. These results suggest that juvenile songbirds did not undergo a strong shift to frugivory during the postfledging period, and arthropods were the primary source of protein during the period when rectrix and body feathers were growing. In addition, the energetic condition of birds was not related to the isotopic signature of feathers. Although our results are inconsistent with the hypothesis that juveniles move into regenerating clearcuts enabling them to shift to a primarily frugivorous diet during the postfledging period, they may consume fruit for nonprotein requirements, such as lipids and carbohydrates. RESUMENes El uso de hábitats de sucesión temprana por aves de bosque maduro durante los periodos después de dejar el nido está bien documentado, pero las razones del porque de este cambio de hábitat son todavía un misterio. A pesar de que las aves paseriformes de bosque son principalmente insectívoras durante el periodo de polluelos y etapas tempranas después del abandono del nido debido a los altos requerimientos de proteína, juveniles más viejos pueden adoptar una dieta mayormente frugívora. Nuestro objetivo fue usar isotopos estables para examinar los niveles tróficos de la dieta de juveniles de tres especies de aves paseriformes de bosque maduro, para determinar si los juveniles de aves paseriformes consumen mayormente frutos durante el periodo después de abandonar el nido y evaluar una posible conexión entre la dieta y condición energética. Colectamos la rectriz mas externa del lado derecho y varias plumas corporales de 34 Hylocichla mustelina, 34 Seiurus aurocapilla y 35 Piranga olivacea capturadas en áreas deforestadas en regeneración en el sureste de Ohio en el 2005 y 2006. También colectamos muestras de frutas y artrópodos en cada área deforestada. Los valores isotópicos de las plumas del cuerpo fueron significativamente más altos (más enriquecidos) que los de las rectrices en todos los casos exceptuando los valores de δ13C para S. aurocapilla en donde no encontramos diferencias entre las plumas del cuerpo y las rectrices. Estos resultados sugieren que los juveniles de aves paseriformes no experimentan un cambio fuerte a frugívora durante el periodo después de dejar el nido y que los artrópodos fueron el principal recurso de proteína durante el periodo cuando las rectrices y las plumas del cuerpo estaban creciendo. 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