Stable isotope (C, N, O, and H) study of a comprehensive set of feathers from two Setophaga citrina.

Samiksha Deme,Laurence Y Yeung,Cin-Ty A Lee,Tao Sun,Huan Cui

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0236536

Abstract

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.

Highlights

The isotopic analysis of bird feathers has been used to infer patterns of diet, foraging, migration, and other ecological descriptors that characterize the life histories of individual organisms [1,2,3,4]
Body feathers and a complete set of flight feathers were sampled from two AHY male Hooded Warblers collected on April 2, 2017 and March 28, 2018
High correlation coefficients in one sample for the for δ13C values of flight feathers and left rectrices were not seen in the other sample

Summary

Introduction

The isotopic analysis of bird feathers has been used to infer patterns of diet, foraging, migration, and other ecological descriptors that characterize the life histories of individual organisms [1,2,3,4]. The 13C/12C ratios in feathers reflect the composition of vegetation in the area of feeding due to differences in plant photosynthetic pathways [6, 7]. Oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in precipitation are strongly linked to local hydroclimate, so 18O/16O and D/H ratios in feathers have been used to reconstruct migratory pathways [9,10,11]. While there have been studies on the feathers of deceased birds, such as the use of museum specimens to examine the long-term evolution of stable-isotope composition of the Eastern Whip-poor-will, (Antrostomus vociferus), a complete set of feathers is rarely analyzed to study diet and migration [12]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion