Marine Mammal Science · 2006 · 75 citations · 41 references
Life SciencesEcologyZoologyMarine MammalogyMarine ZoologyTrophic EcologyCetacean BiologyMarine Mammal EcologyMarine Mammal Life HistoryMarine Trophic EcologyTrophic LevelsCetacean EcologyCetacean Feeding EcologyCetacean Life HistoryIsotopic FractionationStable Isotope Trophic AnalysisTrophic Level Analysis
Abstract Stable isotopic analyses of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur were performed on teeth of different ages and sexes of the longbeaked common dolphin, Delphinus capensis, from the Gulf of California. Similarities in diet are suggested between the sexes, with no significant differences in isotopic compositions being observed. Differences in the δ 13 C, δ 15 N, and δ 34 S signatures were found among the age groups (nursing calf, juvenile, subadult, and adult). These data suggest that this species is generally a coastal feeder, and that it changes its feeding habits with increasing age, drawing more nutrition from higher trophic level organisms later in life.
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Variation in trophic shift for stable isotope ratios of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur
James H. McCutchan, William M. Lewis, Carol Kendall et al. · Oikos · 2003 · 2.7K citations