Prefledging diet is correlated with individual growth in Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)

摘要: ABSTRACT. The period of growth prior to fledging is a critical life stage for most birds, and shifts in diet during ontogeny may affect development. We used nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotopes feather tissue quantify dietary composition evaluate the relationship between prefledging Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Sequential sampling δ15N from that was synthesized throughout allowed us changes plant versus invertebrate contributions chick first 28 days posthatch. Feathers became depleted growth, Bayesian mixing models suggested proportional contribution declined with age. estimate protein diets decreased 39% at 1 week 23% 4 weeks age, which consistent previous research on sage-grouse traditional diet-sampling methods. Chicks values tha...