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We are what we eat, plus some per mill: Using stable isotopes to estimate diet composition in Gyps vultures over space and time.
  • +3
  • Allan Baino,
  • Grant Hopcraft,
  • Corinne Kendall,
  • Jason Newton,
  • Abdelkader Behdenna,
  • Linus Munishi
Allan Baino
University of Greenwich Faculty of Engineering and Science

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Grant Hopcraft
University of Glasgow
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Corinne Kendall
North Carolina Zoo
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Jason Newton
University of Glasgow
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Abdelkader Behdenna
Epigene Labs
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Linus Munishi
Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology
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Abstract

1. Dietary studies in birds of prey involve direct observation and examination of food remains at resting and nesting sites. Although these methods accurately identify diet in raptors, they are time-consuming, resource-intensive, and associated with biases from the feeding ecology of raptors like Gyps vultures. Our study set out to estimate diet composition in Gyps vultures informed by stable isotopes that provide a good representation of assimilated diet from local systems.
2. We hypothesized that differences in Gyps vulture diet composition is a function of sampling location, and that these vultures move between Serengeti National Park and Selous Game Reserve protected areas to forage. We also, theorised that grazing ungulates are the principal items in Gyps vulture diet.
3. Through combined linear and Bayesian modelling, diet-derived from 13C in Gyps vultures consisted of grazing herbivores across sites, with those in Serengeti National Park consuming higher proportions of grazing herbivores (> 87%). 13C differences in vulture feather subsets did not indicate shifts in vulture diet and combined with blood 13C, vultures fed largely on grazers for ~159 days before they were sampled. Similarly, 15N values indicated Gyps vultures fed largely on herbivores. 34S ratios separated where vultures fed when the two sites were compared. 34S variation in vultures across sites resulted from baseline differences in plant 34S values, though it is not possible to match 34S to specific locations.
4. Our findings highlight the relevance of repeated sampling that considers tissues with varying isotopic turnover and emerging Bayesian techniques for dietary studies using stable isotopes. Findings also suggested limited vulture movement between the two local systems. However, more sampling coupled with telemetry is required to fully comprehend this observation and its implications to Gyps vulture ecology and conservation.
05 Oct 2021Submission Checks Completed
05 Oct 2021Assigned to Editor
19 Oct 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
03 Jan 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
11 Jan 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
17 Feb 20221st Revision Received
17 Feb 2022Submission Checks Completed
17 Feb 2022Assigned to Editor
17 Feb 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
18 Feb 2022Editorial Decision: Accept
Mar 2022Published in Ecology and Evolution volume 12 issue 3. 10.1002/ece3.8726