Open AccessStable isotope (C, N, O, and H) study of a comprehensive set of feathers from two Setophaga citrina
Author(s) -
Samiksha Deme,
Laurence Y. Yeung,
Tao Sun,
Cin-Ty A. Lee
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0236536
Subject(s) - feather , stable isotope ratio , isotope analysis , hydrogen isotope , ecology , biology , zoology , isotope , physics , quantum mechanics
Oxygen, hydrogen, carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes were measured on a comprehensive sampling of feathers from two spring Hooded Warblers ( Setophaga citrina ) in Texas to evaluate isotopic variability between feathers and during molt. Isotopic homogeneity within each bird was found across all four isotopic systems, supporting the hypothesis that molt in these neotropical migrants is fully completed on the breeding grounds. This homogeneity suggests that the isotopic composition of a single feather is may be representative of the whole songbird. However, each bird was found to have one or two outlier feathers, which could signify regrowth of lost feathers after prebasic molt.