Diets and long-term changes in delta15N and delta13C values in northern fulmars Fulmarus glacialis from two northeast Atlantic colonies

Abstract

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 125:3-11 (1995) - doi:10.3354/meps125003 Diets and long-term changes in δ15N and δ13C values in northern fulmars Fulmarus glacialis from two northeast Atlantic colonies Thompson DR, Furness RW, Lewis SA Stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (15N/14N) and carbon (13C/12C) were determined in feather samples from northern fulmars Fulmarus glacialis sampled at around the turn of the century and in 1993 from 2 northeast Atlantic colonies. At both locations δ15N values declined over time indicating a shift in fulmars to a lower trophic status. Similarly, δ13C signatures declined over time. These findings are consistent with a change in diet from prey of relatively high trophic status, possibly involving the utilisation of offal from whaling activities around the turn of this century, to contemporary prey of lower trophic status. Contemporary dietary information from fulmars at both sites accords with feather isotopic signatures. Two prey species recorded in the diet of fulmars from St Kilda can be considered mesopelagic and have not been noted in seabird diets previously. This is the first study to show that stable isotopes in feathers can be used to determine long-term changes in bird diet. Stable isotopes . Northern fulmar . Temporal trends . Diet . Mesopelagic prey Full text in pdf format NextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 125. Publication date: September 14, 1995 Print ISSN:0171-8630; Online ISSN:1616-1599 Copyright © 1995 Inter-Research.