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Stable Isotope Trophic Shifts in White‐Tailed Deer
Author(s) -
DARR RYAN L.,
HEWITT DAVID G.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the journal of wildlife management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1937-2817
pISSN - 0022-541X
DOI - 10.2193/2006-293
Subject(s) - trophic level , antler , odocoileus , δ15n , δ13c , isotope analysis , biology , stable isotope ratio , isotope , zoology , ecology , physics , quantum mechanics
Differences between diet and tissue isotope values known as trophic shifts (Δδ 13 C and Δδ 15 N) occur during digestion and assimilation of consumed food. Consideration of trophic shifts is essential when using stable isotopes for dietary reconstruction but has received little attention for cervids. Therefore, our purpose was to determine C and N trophic shifts in tissues of captive white‐tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) fed corn and alfalfa in known amounts over a 4‐month period. Antler has also received limited consideration for use in dietary reconstruction, thus, we analyzed tissue to expose variation among locations along the main beam and between antler components. We collected antler, hair, red blood cells (RBCs), and serum at the end of the feeding trial and analyzed them to determine C (δ 13 C) and N (δ 15 N) isotope values. Trophic shifts occurred between diet and all tissues for both isotopes with mean Δδ 13 C = 1.19 ± 2.23% and Δδ 15 N = 4.93 ± 0.74%. Antler trophic shifts were greater than those in all other tissues for δ 13 C, whereas antler and RBCs shared similar trophic enrichment over diet but differed from hair and serum for Δδ 15 N. Trophic shift values were significantly related to diet in hair and serum for δ 13 C and antler and RBCs for Δδ 15 N. Isotope values for antler core and periphery plus antler locations along the main beam did not vary. Antler collagen significantly varied from whole antler for δ 13 C but not δ 15 N. Our findings provide mean trophic shift values by tissue that can be used for dietary reconstruction in the study and management of cervids.