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Detecting Altitudinal Migration Events in Neotropical Birds Using Stable Isotopes
Author(s) -
Fraser Kevin C.,
Kurt Kyser T.,
Ratcliffe Laurene M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
biotropica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1744-7429
pISSN - 0006-3606
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2008.00408.x
Subject(s) - hydrogen isotope , ecology , stable isotope ratio , geography , tropics , biology , isotope , physics , quantum mechanics
We evaluated the utility of stable‐hydrogen isotope ratios in tropical bird tissues for detecting altitudinal migration events. Our results identified two of five species as altitudinal migrants in Nicaragua. This approach may circumvent the current limitations of mark–recapture techniques and enhance our ability to study this poorly characterized behavior.