Assessment of gestation, lactation and fasting on stable isotope ratios in northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris)

摘要: Effects of physiological processes such as gestation, lactation and nutritional stress on stable isotope ratios remain poorly understood. To determine their impact, we investigated these in simultaneously fasting lactating northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris). Stable carbon nitrogen values were measured blood milk 10 mother-pup pairs days 5 22 lactation. As long- short-term integrators diet, cells serum may reflect foraging data or energy reserves from late gestation lactation, respectively. Limited changes isotopic signatures maternal over the period highlighted. Nitrogen fractionation associated with mother-to-offspring