Stable carbon isotope reconstruction of ungulate diet changes through the seasonal cycle

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dc.contributor.authorCodron, Daryl
dc.contributor.authorLee-Thorp, Julia A
dc.contributor.authorSponheimer, Matt
dc.contributor.authorCodron, Jacqui
dc.date.accessioned2016-01-20T10:35:02Z
dc.date.available2016-01-20T10:35:02Z
dc.date.issued2007
dc.date.updated2016-01-19T08:02:08Z
dc.description.abstractWe analysed stable carbon isotope ratios (ð13C) in faeces of 11 African ungulate species from three South African savanna environments to determine whether this approach is sufficiently sensitive to record short-term seasonal diet changes in browsers (BR), mixed-feeders (IM), and grazers (GR). At monthly intervals, faecal ð13C revealed variations in proportions of C3 (browse) to C4 (grass) biomass consumed that were not detected by broader dry versus wet season comparisons, including subtle diet shifts amongst BR and GR. However, trends in faeces were influenced by changes in C3 and C4 plant isotope composition of up to 3‰. Nonetheless, faeces and plants showed strongly similar patterns of variation through the seasonal cycle, so that small diet shifts can be reliably inferred, provided that the variations in plants are controlled for. Faecal ð13C of BR may be further influenced by consumption of isotopically different plant parts such as foliage versus fruit and flowers, and GR faeces may reflect differential utilization of grass following different photosynthetic sub-pathways. Future studies will need to incorporate data that capture isotopic variations in herbivore food sources, and if this is achieved, the approach may well become adopted as a routine addition to traditional methods for assessing diet, habitat use, and habitat condition.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationCodron, D., Lee-Thorp, J. A., Sponheimer, M., & Codron, J. (2007). Stable carbon isotope reconstruction of ungulate diet changes through the seasonal cycle. <i>South African Journal of Wildlife Research</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/16452en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationCodron, Daryl, Julia A Lee-Thorp, Matt Sponheimer, and Jacqui Codron "Stable carbon isotope reconstruction of ungulate diet changes through the seasonal cycle." <i>South African Journal of Wildlife Research</i> (2007) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/16452en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationCodron, D., Lee-Thorp, J. A., Sponheimer, M., & Codron, J. (2007). Stable carbon isotope reconstruction of ungulate diet changes through the seasonal cycle. South African Journal of Wildlife Research, 37(2), 117-125.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn2410-7220en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Codron, Daryl AU - Lee-Thorp, Julia A AU - Sponheimer, Matt AU - Codron, Jacqui AB - We analysed stable carbon isotope ratios (ð13C) in faeces of 11 African ungulate species from three South African savanna environments to determine whether this approach is sufficiently sensitive to record short-term seasonal diet changes in browsers (BR), mixed-feeders (IM), and grazers (GR). At monthly intervals, faecal ð13C revealed variations in proportions of C3 (browse) to C4 (grass) biomass consumed that were not detected by broader dry versus wet season comparisons, including subtle diet shifts amongst BR and GR. However, trends in faeces were influenced by changes in C3 and C4 plant isotope composition of up to 3‰. Nonetheless, faeces and plants showed strongly similar patterns of variation through the seasonal cycle, so that small diet shifts can be reliably inferred, provided that the variations in plants are controlled for. Faecal ð13C of BR may be further influenced by consumption of isotopically different plant parts such as foliage versus fruit and flowers, and GR faeces may reflect differential utilization of grass following different photosynthetic sub-pathways. Future studies will need to incorporate data that capture isotopic variations in herbivore food sources, and if this is achieved, the approach may well become adopted as a routine addition to traditional methods for assessing diet, habitat use, and habitat condition. DA - 2007 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town J1 - South African Journal of Wildlife Research LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2007 SM - 2410-7220 T1 - Stable carbon isotope reconstruction of ungulate diet changes through the seasonal cycle TI - Stable carbon isotope reconstruction of ungulate diet changes through the seasonal cycle UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/16452 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/16452
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationCodron D, Lee-Thorp JA, Sponheimer M, Codron J. Stable carbon isotope reconstruction of ungulate diet changes through the seasonal cycle. South African Journal of Wildlife Research. 2007; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/16452.en_ZA
dc.languageengen_ZA
dc.publisherSouthern African Wildlife Management Associationen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Archaeologyen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.sourceSouth African Journal of Wildlife Researchen_ZA
dc.source.urihttp://www.sawma.co.za/
dc.titleStable carbon isotope reconstruction of ungulate diet changes through the seasonal cycleen_ZA
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.subject.keywordsbrowseren_ZA
uct.subject.keywordsfaecesen_ZA
uct.subject.keywordsgrazeren_ZA
uct.subject.keywordskruger parken_ZA
uct.subject.keywordsmixed-feederen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
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