Using stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon to study seabird ecology: applications in the Mediterranean seabird community
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2003.67s223Keywords:
stable isotopes, Mediterranean Sea, seabirds, trophic ecology, conservation, nitrogen, carbonAbstract
The application of the stable isotope technique to ecological studies is becoming increasingly widespread. In the case of seabirds, stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon have been mainly used as dietary tracers. This approach relieson the fact that food web isotopic signatures are reflected in the tissues of the consumer. In addition to the study of trophic ecology, stable isotopes have been used to track the movement of seabirds across isotopic gradients, as individuals moving between isotopically distinct foodwebs can carry with them information on the location of previous feeding areas. Studies applying the stable isotope methodology to the study of seabird ecology show a clear evolution from broad and descriptive approaches to detailed and individual-based analyses. The purpose of this article is to show the different fields of application of stable isotopes to the study of the seabird ecology. Finally, we illustrate the utility of this technique by considering the particularities of the Mediterranean seabird community, suggesting different ecological questions and conservation problems that could be addressed by using the stable isotope approach in this community.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
Downloads
Published
2003-07-30
How to Cite
1.
Forero MG, Hobson KA. Using stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon to study seabird ecology: applications in the Mediterranean seabird community. Sci. mar. [Internet]. 2003Jul.30 [cited 2024Jul.23];67(S2):23-32. Available from: https://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/538
Issue
Section
Articles
License
Copyright (c) 2003 Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
© CSIC. Manuscripts published in both the printed and online versions of this Journal are the property of Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, and quoting this source is a requirement for any partial or full reproduction.All contents of this electronic edition, except where otherwise noted, are distributed under a “Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International” (CC BY 4.0) License. You may read here the basic information and the legal text of the license. The indication of the CC BY 4.0 License must be expressly stated in this way when necessary.
Self-archiving in repositories, personal webpages or similar, of any version other than the published by the Editor, is not allowed.