Premium
Hydrogen isotope ratios in animal body protein reflect trophic level
Author(s) -
BIRCHALL JENNIFER,
O'CONNELL TAMSIN C.,
HEATON TIM H. E.,
HEDGES ROBERT E. M.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of animal ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.134
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1365-2656
pISSN - 0021-8790
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2005.00979.x
Subject(s) - trophic level , δ15n , food web , isotope analysis , stable isotope ratio , ecology , isotopes of nitrogen , δ13c , isotope , terrestrial ecosystem , isotopes of carbon , biology , aquatic ecosystem , nitrogen , environmental chemistry , ecosystem , chemistry , total organic carbon , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
Summary1 Carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in consumer tissues are known to correlate with diet isotope composition, and nitrogen isotope ratios are observed to increase with increasing trophic level. 2 We analysed nitrogen and hydrogen isotope ratios of collagen from 19 species of British fish, birds and mammals to investigate how δD also correlated with trophic level and with feeding environment (terrestrial or aquatic). 3 A strong relationship between trophic level and δD was discovered for both terrestrial and aquatic consumers. 4 The correlation between trophic level and δ 15 N was apparent for terrestrial consumers, but less so for aquatic consumers. 5 No differentiation was found between δD of aquatic and terrestrial consumers at the same trophic level. 6 This observation should provide an additional tool in the study of current and ancient animal and human food web ecology.