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1 April 2004 The relationship between carbon stable isotope ratios of hatchling down and egg yolk in Black-headed Gulls
Marcel Klaassen, Teun Baarspul, Ten Dekkers, Piet van Tienen
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Abstract

We reconstructed the nutrient source for egg synthesis by sampling Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) eggs for yolk, analyzing their carbon stable isotope ratio, and comparing that to hatchling down. Most of the variation in carbon stable isotope ratio was explained by differences between nests, the within-nest variation being explained by laying order. These data indicate significant differences in diet choice between individual females and changes in food choice or body-store dynamics during egg laying. Among-egg variation in the carbon stable isotope ratios of the yolk were closely reflected in the hatchling down, on average down being enriched by 3.1‰ δ13C relative to yolk. Our findings support the contention that pre-laying female diets can be evaluated from hatchling down.

Marcel Klaassen, Teun Baarspul, Ten Dekkers, and Piet van Tienen "The relationship between carbon stable isotope ratios of hatchling down and egg yolk in Black-headed Gulls," Journal of Field Ornithology 75(2), 196-199, (1 April 2004). https://doi.org/10.1648/0273-8570-75.2.196
Received: 31 January 2003; Accepted: 1 September 2003; Published: 1 April 2004
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KEYWORDS
carbon stable isotope ratios
egg production
Larus ridibundus
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