Validation of stable isotope analysis for determining dietary proportions and trophic dynamics in plains sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus jamesi)

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dc.contributor.authorMeyhoff, Sejer Dixon
dc.contributor.authorUniversity of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
dc.contributor.supervisorJohnson, Dan L.
dc.date.accessioned2020-05-29T21:56:18Z
dc.date.available2020-05-29T21:56:18Z
dc.date.issued2020
dc.degree.levelMastersen_US
dc.description.abstractStable isotopes in the tissue of a consumer organism can be used to estimate the proportional utilization of foods based on different isotopic signals and can also be used to estimate changes to diet over time. In this study, stable isotopes of nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) were used to examine the feeding relationships of plains sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus jamesi). Sharp-tailed grouse are known to consume mostly plant food and utilize insects and spiders as a high-protein food source when available. Food web dynamics are generally poorly understood, and emerging factors such as climate change are likely to alter bird-arthropod trophic relationships. Primary feathers from 40 plains sharp-tailed grouse were analyzed and used to estimate diet proportions of vegetation and arthropods from May to October. Results indicated that plains sharp-tailed grouse may primarily utilize nutrients obtained from insect prey, mainly grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae), for primary feather synthesis.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipPrairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference Alberta Conservation Association University of Lethbridgeen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10133/5735
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.proquest.subject0353en_US
dc.proquest.subject0329en_US
dc.proquest.subject0487en_US
dc.proquestyesYesen_US
dc.publisherLethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Department of Geography and Environmenten_US
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Geography and Environmenten_US
dc.publisher.facultyArts and Scienceen_US
dc.relation.ispartofseriesThesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science)en_US
dc.subjectSharp-tailed grouseen_US
dc.subjectFood websen_US
dc.subjectStable isotopesen_US
dc.subjectArthropodsen_US
dc.subjectEsophageal crop analysisen_US
dc.subjectEcologyen_US
dc.subjectSharp-tailed grouse -- Researchen_US
dc.subjectSharp-tailed grouse -- Nutrition -- Researchen_US
dc.subjectSharp-tailed grouse -- Food -- Researchen_US
dc.subjectFood chains (Ecology) -- Researchen_US
dc.subjectStable isotopes in ecological researchen_US
dc.subjectFeathers -- Analysisen_US
dc.subjectDissertations, Academicen_US
dc.titleValidation of stable isotope analysis for determining dietary proportions and trophic dynamics in plains sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus jamesi)en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
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