Abstract
Sexual dimorphism is often associated with different feeding strategies between sexes because of distinct nutritional demands or intake rates. Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) is the most sexually dimorphic grouse, thus sexual segregation in resource use is likely. This study assessed intrapopulation variation in the diet related to habitat use, focusing on differential feeding behaviors between Capercaillie females and males. We used stable isotopes analyses in feathers of Cantabrian Capercaillie, a population living at the southern edge of the range in purely deciduous forests. We analyzed feathers of females and males, and sorted them according to the dominant tree species in the patch where they were found. Mean isotopic values differed both between sexes and among forest types. The latter explained most of the isotopic variance, suggesting that birds consistently selected certain forest types to molt. Capercaillie females showed wider trophic niche and seemingly more intra-gender diversity in resource use than males. The differences between sexes in the trophic variability support the sexual segregation reported in previous studies which is associated with females using the more micro-habitat diverse treeline areas, while males mainly use the inner areas of the forests. Stable isotope analysis proved very useful to assess intersexual niche partitioning in rare species living in rugged terrains where it is logistically difficult to rely on direct approaches (i.e. direct observation, capture and radio-tracking).
Zusammenfassung
Analyse stabiler Isotope belegt Habitataufteilung und Mauserplatztreue bei Tetrao urogallus cantabricus
Ein Geschlechtsdimorphismus geht aufgrund von Unterschieden im Nahrungsbedarf oder den Aufnahmeraten häufig mit unterschiedlichen Nahrungsstrategien der Geschlechter einher. Unter den Raufußhühnern weist das Auerhuhn (Tetrao urogallus) den stärksten Geschlechtsdimorphismus auf, was eine geschlechtsspezifische Ressourcennutzung wahrscheinlich macht. Diese Arbeit behandelt die Variation in der Nahrungszusammensetzung innerhalb einer Population im Zusammenhang mit der Habitatnutzung und setzt dabei den Schwerpunkt auf das unterschiedliche Nahrungsverhalten von Auerhähnen und –hennen. Dazu wurden stabile Isotope in Federn des Kantabrischen Auerhuhns untersucht, einer Population, die reine Nadelwälder am Südrand des Verbreitungsgebietes bewohnt. Federn von Männchen und Weibchen wurden analysiert und anhand der am Fundort vorherrschenden Baumart gruppiert. Die mittleren Isotopenwerte unterschieden sich sowohl zwischen den Geschlechtern als auch zwischen den Waldtypen. Letzteres erklärte den Hauptteil der Isotopenvarianz, was darauf hindeutet, dass die Vögel zur Mauser gezielt bestimmte Waldtypen aufsuchen. Auerhennen nutzten eine breitere Nahrungsnische und zeigten offenbar eine stärkere innergeschlechtliche Variation in der Ressourcennutzung als die Hähne. Diese Geschlechtsunterschiede im Nahrungsspektrum bestätigen die aus früheren Studien bekannte Geschlechtertrennung, die damit zusammenhängt, dass die Weibchen die an Mikrohabitaten reichere Baumgrenzenzone nutzen, während die Männchen hauptsächlich die inneren Waldbereiche aufsuchen. Die Analyse stabiler Isotope erwies sich als gut geeignet für die Untersuchung der geschlechtsspezifischen Einnischung seltener Arten in unwegsamem Gelände, wo direkte Ansätze (z. B. Sichtbeobachtung, Fang und Radiotelemetrie) Problemen verbunden sind.
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Acknowledgments
We thank the Asturian Environmental Agency (Consejería de Medio Ambiente del Principado de Asturias) for providing access to part of the feathers that were analyzed. We also thank José Luis Benito, the coordinator of the summer drives and author of corresponding technical reports. We are especially grateful to Manuel A. González, Luis Robles, Maria Cano, Fernando Rodríguez, Andrés Gómez Merillas, Oscar Fernández Otero, José Carral and Alberto Fernández-Gil whose help was key in the field surveys. Amalia Segura participated in the laborious work of processing the samples. Jörg Müller, and two anonymous referees improved with their comments an early version of the manuscript. The study was funded by a PFPU-MEC fellowship to B.B.F., grant CN-07-174, from the Asturian Environmental Agency to J.R.O., grant UNOV-08-MB-2 from Oviedo University to M.Q. and grants IB08-158 from FICYT and CGL2010-15990 from MICINN to M.J.B.
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Communicated by T. Gottschalk.
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Blanco-Fontao, B., Obeso, J.R., Bañuelos, MJ. et al. Habitat partitioning and molting site fidelity in Tetrao urogallus cantabricus revealed through stable isotopes analysis. J Ornithol 153, 555–562 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-011-0776-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-011-0776-0