To whom it may concern:


The following paper has been recently published in Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry:

'Variation in ä¹⁵N and ä¹³C stable isotope values in common dolphins (Delphinus spp.) worldwide, with particular emphasis on the eastern North Atlantic populations.'

AM Pinela, Borrell A & Aguilar A (2015)

Article first published online: 25 MAR 2015

DOI: 10.1002/rcm.7173

ABSTRACT: 

RATIONALE Distinguishing population units of small cetaceans continuously distributed in a widespread area is challenging but critical for their conservation and management. The use of chemical markers allows investigating foraging ecology and inter-specific variability, in order to detect population structure and niche segregation in the common dolphin (Delphinus spp.).

METHODS Stable isotopes of carbon (ä¹³C) and nitrogen (ä¹⁵N) were measured in the bone tissue of common dolphins accidentally by-caught or stranded along the North-eastern and eastern Subtropical Atlantic Ocean, by means of continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Trophic positions were determined and compared, taking into account the local ecosystem trophic baseline for each study area. Data obtained for the study areas were qualitatively compared to common dolphin species/populations distributed worldwide.

RESULTS ä¹³C and ä¹⁵N values were higher in the eastern Subtropical Atlantic as a consequence of the coexistence in the area of the common dolphin short- and long-beaked morphotypes. Individuals from the North-eastern Atlantic displayed lower ä¹⁵N values, reflecting dissimilarities in diet and of variation in local isotopic baselines. Comparisons with other areas around the world, suggest the species is extremely adaptive and feeds at different trophic levels to adapt to local variations.

 CONCLUSIONS Stable isotopes are a useful tool to investigate population structure and trophic niche segregation. Trophic behaviour of worldwide populations of common dolphins were fruitfully analysed and revealed substantial differences, likely reflective of both adaptive strategies of the genus and dissimilarities in the structure of the ecosystems.

Here is the link to the Abstract page:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rcm.7173/abstract
 
If you are interested in a PDF *reprint* please write to this e-mail address:
ana.pinela@gmail.com
 
Thank you very much in advance.
Best regards,

Ana M. Pinela

(University of Barcelona)