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ISOTOPIC ANALYSIS OF δ 13 C, δ 15 N, AND δ 34 S “A FEEDING TALE” IN TEETH OF THE LONGBEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN, DELPHINUS CAPENSIS
Author(s) -
NiñoTorres Carlos Alberto,
GalloReynoso Juan Pablo,
GalvánMagaña Felipe,
EscobarBriones Elva,
Macko Stephen A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
marine mammal science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.723
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1748-7692
pISSN - 0824-0469
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2006.00065.x
Subject(s) - δ13c , trophic level , juvenile , isotope analysis , δ15n , biology , zoology , stable isotope ratio , ecology , physics , quantum mechanics
Stable isotopic analyses of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur were performed on teeth of different ages and sexes of the longbeaked common dolphin, Delphinus capensis, from the Gulf of California. Similarities in diet are suggested between the sexes, with no significant differences in isotopic compositions being observed. Differences in the δ 13 C, δ 15 N, and δ 34 S signatures were found among the age groups (nursing calf, juvenile, subadult, and adult). These data suggest that this species is generally a coastal feeder, and that it changes its feeding habits with increasing age, drawing more nutrition from higher trophic level organisms later in life.