Body size predicts ontogenetic nitrogen stable-isotope (δ15N) variation, but has little relationship with trophic level in ectotherm vertebrate predators

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 14102 - 10
• Main Authors: Villamarín, Francisco, Jardine, Timothy D., Bunn, Stuart E., Malvasio, Adriana, Piña, Carlos Ignacio, Jacobi, Cristina Mariana, Araújo, Diogo Dutra, de Brito, Elizângela Silva, de Moraes Carvalho, Felipe, da Costa, Igor David, Verdade, Luciano Martins, Lara, Neliton, de Camargo, Plínio Barbosa, Miorando, Priscila Saikoski, Portelinha, Thiago Costa Gonçalves, Marques, Thiago Simon, Magnusson, William E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 19.06.2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/158; 631/158/2466; Animals; Body Size; Fishes - physiology; Food Chain; Food webs; Gastrointestinal Contents - chemistry; Humanities and Social Sciences; Intraspecific relationships; Isotopes; Lizards; Lizards - metabolism; Lizards - physiology; multidisciplinary; Nitrogen; Nitrogen Isotopes - analysis; Nitrogen Isotopes - metabolism; Ontogeny; Predators; Predatory Behavior - physiology; Prey; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Stable isotopes; Stomach; Trophic levels; Turtles; Turtles - metabolism; Turtles - physiology; Vertebrates

Large predators have disproportionate effects on their underlying food webs. Thus, appropriately assigning trophic positions has important conservation implications both for the predators themselves and for their prey. Large-bodied predators are often referred to as apex predators, implying that the...