Integrated approach for the isotope trophic position of black-tailed gull (Larus crassirostris) eggs over a decade: Combining stable isotopes of amino acids and fatty acids composition

Abstract

Recently, compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) using the amino acid nitrogen stable isotope ratio (delta 15NAAs) has been widely used for accurate estimation of trophic position (TP). In addition, a quantitative fatty acid signature analysis (QFASA) offers insights into diet sources. In this study, we used these techniques to estimate the TP for seabirds that rely on diverse food sources across multiple ecosystems. This allows for the proper combination of factors used in TP calculation which are different for each ecosystem. The approach involved the application of a multi-mixing trophic discrimination factor (TDF) and mixing beta which is a Delta delta 15N between trophic and source amino acid of primary producer. Since the black-tailed gulls (BTGs) are income-breeding seabirds, which rely on energy sources obtained around their breeding sites, they and their eggs could be useful bioindicators for environmental monitoring. However, the ecological properties of BTGs such as habitats, diets, and TP are not well known due to their large migration range for wintering or breeding and their feeding habits on both aquatic and terrestrial prey. In this study, the eggs were used for estimating TP and for predicting TP of mother birds to overcome difficulties such as capturing birds and collecting non-invasive tissue samples. Eggs, sampled over a decade from three Korean islands, showed spatial differences in diet origin. Considering both the food chain and physiology of BTG, the TP of eggs was estimated to be 3.3-4.0. Notably, the TP was significantly higher at site H (3.8 +/- 0.1) than at site B (3.5 +/- 0.2), which indicated a higher contribution of marine diet as confirmed by QFASA. Using a reproductive shift of delta 15NAAs, the TP of the mother birds was predicted to be 3.6-4.3, positioning them as the top predator in the food web. The advanced integration of multiple approaches provides valuable insights into bird ecology.