Isotope signatures of Carnivorans hair in the North-West of Russia: the role of diet, behavior and metabolism
Eltsova L. Ivanova E. Komov V. Mizgireva I. Kopylov D. Kuznetsova L. Barinova M. Platonova E. Rumiantseva O. Savkova I. Poddubnaya N.
October 2024Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
European Journal of Wildlife Research
2024#70Issue 5
The study presents the analysis of δ13C and δ15N values in the hair of several Carnivora species (brown bear, Eurasian lynx, wolf, red fox, European pine marten, least weasel, European polecat, stoat, otter) from the Vologda region (North-West of the Russian Federation). The value of δ13C varies from -27.9‰ to -20.4‰, δ15N – from 3.5‰ to 15.3‰. This study shows that the trophic specialization of animals explains the width of variability in the isotopic ratios of carbon and nitrogen. The hair of semi-aquatic predator (otter) is depleted of the heavy carbon isotope compared to terrestrial carnivores. The ratio of heavy carbon isotopes in animal tissues is directly proportional to body weight and metabolic rate. Species with a narrow trophic specialization (Eurasian lynx, stoat, least weasel, otter) contain less 13C than species with a wider food spectrum (wolf, red fox, European pine marten, European polecat, brown bear). Animals with high motor activity (least weasel, stoat, European pine marten) contain less 13C in comparison with less mobile European polecat. When compared with data from museum collections, the value of δ13C in the hair of carnivorans from the southern and middle taiga has decreased by an average of 2.4 ‰ over the past 100 years. The hair of animals that feed on aquatic prey (otter, European polecat) is enriched with a heavy nitrogen isotopes compared to predators that feed on phytophages (Eurasian lynx) and mainly plant food (brown bear). The hair of omnivorous species (European pine marten, red fox, wolf) and species that feed on small mammals (least weasel, stoat) are in an average position according to the δ15N value. The ability of animals to accumulate fat reserves to overcome long periods of food deficiency may be the reason for an increase in 13C (brown bear, European polecat) in tissues.
Hair , Isotope ecology , Predatory mammals , δ13C , δ15N
Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи
Cherepovets State University, Cherepovets, Russian Federation
Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters, Russian Academy of Sciences, Borok, Russian Federation
Russian North National Park, Kirillov, Russian Federation
Cherepovets Museum Association, Cherepovets, Russian Federation
Vologda State Museum-Reserve, Vologda, Russian Federation
Totma Local History Museum, Totma, Russian Federation
Institute of Zoology Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Cherepovets State University
Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters
Russian North National Park
Cherepovets Museum Association
Vologda State Museum-Reserve
Totma Local History Museum
Institute of Zoology Republic of Kazakhstan
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026