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Trophic partitioning in tropical rain forest birds: insights from stable isotope analysis

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Abstract

Bird communities reach their highest taxonomic and trophic diversity in tropical rain forest, but the use of different foraging strategies to meet food requirements in such competitive environments is poorly understood. Conventional dietary analyses are poorly suited to investigate dietary patterns in complex systems. We used stable carbon (13C/12C) and nitrogen (15N/14N) isotope analysis of whole blood to examine avian trophic patterns and sources of diet in the tropical rain forest of Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico. We used stable nitrogen isotope analysis to delineate trophic levels, and stable carbon isotope analysis to distinguish the relative contribution of C-3 and CAM/C-4 ultimate sources of proteins to diets. There was large inter- and intraspecific variation in whole blood δ13C and δ15N values in 23 species of birds. Stable nitrogen isotope analysis separated birds into several trophic levels, including species that obtained their dietary protein mostly from plants, insects or a combination of both food sources. Stable carbon isotope analysis showed that most birds fed on C3-based foods but Stub-tailed Spadebills (Platyrinchus cancrominus) included C-3- and C-4/CAM-specialist individuals. Our analyses provided insights into the nutritional contribution of plant and animal sources of protein and distinguish their photosynthetic origin over relatively long average time periods.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología to L.G.H.M. (31849-N), and an operating grant to K.A.H. from the Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment Canada. Stable isotope analyses were conducted at the Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan. P. Healy assisted with the preparation of stable isotope samples and D. Curiel helped during the field work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Apartado Postal 70-153, 04510, Mexico, Distrito Federal, Mexico

    L. Gerardo Herrera, Keith A. Hobson, Malinalli Rodríguez & Patricia Hernandez

  2. Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 0X4, Canada

    Keith A. Hobson

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  1. L. Gerardo Herrera
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  2. Keith A. Hobson
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  3. Malinalli Rodríguez
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  4. Patricia Hernandez
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Correspondence to L. Gerardo Herrera.

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Herrera, L.G., Hobson, K.A., Rodríguez, M. et al. Trophic partitioning in tropical rain forest birds: insights from stable isotope analysis. Oecologia 136, 439–444 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-003-1293-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-003-1293-5

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