The stable isotope hydrology of Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada with implications for evaluating the water budget of wild horses

Abstract

ABSTRACT We investigated the stable isotope hydrology of Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada over a five year period from September, 2017 to August, 2022. The δ 2H and δ 18O values of integrated monthly precipitation were weakly seasonal and ranged from –66 to –15 ‰ and from –9.7 to –1.9 ‰, respectively. Fitting these monthly precipitation data resulted in a local meteoric water line (LMWL) defined by: δ 2H = 7.22 ± 0.21 · δ 18O + 7.50 ± 1.22 ‰. Amount-weighted annual precipitation had δ 2H and δ 18O values of –36 ± 11 ‰ and –6.1 ± 1.4 ‰, respectively. Deep groundwater had more negative δ 2H and δ 18O values than mean annual precipitation, suggesting recharge occurs mainly in the winter, while shallow groundwater had δ 2H and δ 18O values more consistent with mean annual precipitation or mixing of freshwater with local seawater. Surface waters had more positive values and showed evidence of isolation from the groundwater system. The stable isotopic compositions of plant (leaf) water, on the other hand, indicate plants use groundwater as their source. Fog had δ 2H and δ 18O values that were significantly more positive than those of local precipitation, yet had similar 17O-excess values. δ 2H values of horsehair from 4 individuals lacked seasonality, but had variations typical to those of precipitation on the island. Differences in mean δ 2H values of horsehair were statistically significant and suggest variations in water use may exist between spatially disparate horse communities. Our results establish an important initial framework for ongoing isotope studies of feral horses and other wildlife on Sable Island.