Dataset Information

Tracking cats revisited: Placing terrestrial mammalian carnivores on ?2H and ?18O isoscapes.

ABSTRACT: The relationship between hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopic compositions in environmental water and hair was investigated for both domestic cats (Felis catus) and dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). A strong, but different, covariance was measured between the hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopic compositions of local precipitation and hair keratin from both cats and dogs. These isotopic differences are most likely a result of the differences between the dietary and drinking water needs of cats compared to dogs. Moreover, the ?2H and ?18O values of hair from captive and wild felids and canids, such as cougars (Puma concolor), bobcats (Lynx rufus), and wolves (Canis lupus) are broadly consistent with these measurements. This evidence indicates that while the water budgets of terrestrial mammalian carnivores need to be considered in isotopic applications, it is clear that felids and canids may be placed on tissue-specific hydrogen and oxygen isotopic landscapes for ecological, provenance, or forensic studies.

SUBMITTER: Koehler G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6720029 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Tracking cats revisited: Placing terrestrial mammalian carnivores on δ2H and δ18O isoscapes.

Koehler Geoff G Hobson Keith A KA

PloS one 20190903 9

The relationship between hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopic compositions in environmental water and hair was investigated for both domestic cats (Felis catus) and dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). A strong, but different, covariance was measured between the hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopic compositions of local precipitation and hair keratin from both cats and dogs. These isotopic differences are most likely a result of the differences between the dietary and drinking water needs of cats compar ...[more]

PMID: 31479471

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Project description:BackgroundSeveral felids are endangered and threatened by the illegal wildlife trade. Establishing geographic origin of tissues of endangered species is thus crucial for wildlife crime investigations and effective conservation strategies. As shown in other species, stable isotope analysis of hydrogen and oxygen in hair (?D(h), ?(18)O(h)) can be used as a tool for provenance determination. However, reliably predicting the spatial distribution of ?D(h) and ?(18)O(h) requires confirmation from animal tissues of known origin and a detailed understanding of the isotopic routing of dietary nutrients into felid hair.Methodology/findingsWe used coupled ?D(h) and ?(18)O(h) measurements from the North American bobcat (Lynx rufus) and puma (Puma concolor) with precipitation-based assignment isoscapes to test the feasibility of isotopic geo-location of felidae. Hairs of felid and rabbit museum specimens from 75 sites across the United States and Canada were analyzed. Bobcat and puma lacked a significant correlation between H/O isotopes in hair and local waters, and also exhibited an isotopic decoupling of ?(18)O(h) and ?D(h). Conversely, strong ?D and ?(18)O coupling was found for key prey, eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus; hair) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; collagen, bone phosphate).Conclusions/significancePuma and bobcat hairs do not adhere to expected pattern of H and O isotopic variation predicted by precipitation isoscapes for North America. Thus, using bulk hair, felids cannot be placed on ?(18)O and ?D isoscapes for use in forensic investigations. The effective application of isotopes to trace the provenance of feline carnivores is likely compromised by major controls of their diet, physiology and metabolism on hair ?(18)O and ?D related to body water budgets. Controlled feeding experiments, combined with single amino acid isotope analysis of diets and hair, are needed to reveal mechanisms and physiological traits explaining why felid hair does not follow isotopic patterns demonstrated in many other taxa.

Dataset Information

Tracking cats revisited: Placing terrestrial mammalian carnivores on ?2H and ?18O isoscapes.

Publications

Tracking cats revisited: Placing terrestrial mammalian carnivores on δ2H and δ18O isoscapes.

Similar Datasets

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