Journal article
Using Carbon and Nitrogen Stable Isotopes to Distinguish the Locations of Feather Growth in Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, v 161(1), pp 61-72
01 Oct 2011
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Large raptors have complicated primary flight feather molt cycles because they cannot afford to be grounded for any significant amount of time. Ospreys (Pandion haliaetas) use Staffelmauser molt, the replacement of remiges in waves, allowing for constant mobility. Since their remiges are always in a molting cycle, Ospreys may grow feathers on their breeding and wintering grounds, each location providing its own distinctive stable isotopic signature. Herein we demonstrate that multiple analyses of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes from several locations along the primary flight feathers of Mid-Atlantic Ospreys document the location of the individual during feather growth. Any previous studies regarding Ospreys feather growth locations were carried out through wear studies, a highly subjective practice. We document three distinct signatures, a breeding ground signature for the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, and two wintering ground signatures, one in the Caribbean and one in northern South America. By analyzing multiple locations along each feather, a technique not executed before, we also document the continuation of molt during migration in a few specimens.
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Details
- Title
- Using Carbon and Nitrogen Stable Isotopes to Distinguish the Locations of Feather Growth in Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
- Creators
- Paula M. Zelanko - Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel UniversityNathan H. Rice - Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel UniversityDavid J. Velinsky - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, v 161(1), pp 61-72
- Publisher
- Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
- Number of pages
- 12
- Grant note
- Cotswold Foundation Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife for feather collection
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science (BEES); Ornithology
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000208770400004
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84856628987
- Other Identifier
- 991019169569204721
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Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Biodiversity Conservation
- Ecology