Extreme bill dimorphism leads to different but overlapping isotopic niches and similar trophic positions in sexes of the charismatic extinct huia

Barbara M. Tomotani; Rodrigo B. Salvador; Amandine J.M. Sabadel; Colin M. Miskelly; Julie C.S. Brown; Josette Delgado; Patrick Boussès; Yves Cherel; Susan M. Waugh; Sarah J. Bury

doi:10.1007/s00442-021-05082-8

Extreme bill dimorphism leads to different but overlapping isotopic niches and similar trophic positions in sexes of the charismatic extinct huia

Barbara M. Tomotani^* (Corresponding author), Rodrigo B. Salvador, Amandine J.M. Sabadel, Colin M. Miskelly, Julie C.S. Brown, Josette Delgado, Patrick Boussès, Yves Cherel, Susan M. Waugh, Sarah J. Bury

^*Corresponding author for this work

NIOO - Animal Ecology (AnE)

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Abstract

The New Zealand huia (Heteralocha acutirostris) had the most extreme bill sexual dimorphism among modern birds. Given the quick extinction of the species, the cause of the dimorphism could only be hypothesised to reflect different trophic niches and reduce male/female competition. We tested that hypothesis by combining museum specimens, geometric morphometrics, and isotopic analyses. We used geometric morphometrics to describe bill shape; measured bulk (δ¹⁵N_bulk) and (δ¹³C_bulk) values from feather as proxies of the birds’ foraging habitat and diet; and compared compound-specific stable isotopes analyses (CSIA) of nitrogen in amino acids (δ¹⁵N_AA) in male–female pairs to estimate their trophic position. Sexes had significantly different, but overlapping feather δ¹⁵N_bulk and δ¹³C_bulk values, but δ¹⁵N_AA indicated identical trophic positions and δ¹⁵N_bulk was not related to bill shape. Trophic position was less variable among females, consistent with a specialised foraging behaviour and, thus, supporting a partial male/female foraging segregation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	67–77
Number of pages	11
Journal	Oecologia
Volume	198
Issue number	1
Early online date	2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-021-05082-8
Publication status	Published - 2022

Keywords

Compound-specific stable isotopes
Feeding ecology
Heteralocha acutirostris
Natural history collections
New Zealand
Passeriformes
Plan_S-Compliant-OA
International

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Tomotani, B. M., Salvador, R. B., Sabadel, A. J. M., Miskelly, C. M., Brown, J. C. S., Delgado, J., Boussès, P., Cherel, Y., Waugh, S. M., & Bury, S. J. (2022). Extreme bill dimorphism leads to different but overlapping isotopic niches and similar trophic positions in sexes of the charismatic extinct huia. Oecologia, 198(1), 67–77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-021-05082-8

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title = "Extreme bill dimorphism leads to different but overlapping isotopic niches and similar trophic positions in sexes of the charismatic extinct huia",

abstract = "The New Zealand huia (Heteralocha acutirostris) had the most extreme bill sexual dimorphism among modern birds. Given the quick extinction of the species, the cause of the dimorphism could only be hypothesised to reflect different trophic niches and reduce male/female competition. We tested that hypothesis by combining museum specimens, geometric morphometrics, and isotopic analyses. We used geometric morphometrics to describe bill shape; measured bulk (δ15Nbulk) and (δ13Cbulk) values from feather as proxies of the birds{\textquoteright} foraging habitat and diet; and compared compound-specific stable isotopes analyses (CSIA) of nitrogen in amino acids (δ15NAA) in male–female pairs to estimate their trophic position. Sexes had significantly different, but overlapping feather δ15Nbulk and δ13Cbulk values, but δ15NAA indicated identical trophic positions and δ15Nbulk was not related to bill shape. Trophic position was less variable among females, consistent with a specialised foraging behaviour and, thus, supporting a partial male/female foraging segregation.",

keywords = "Compound-specific stable isotopes, Feeding ecology, Heteralocha acutirostris, Natural history collections, New Zealand, Passeriformes, Plan_S-Compliant-OA, International",

author = "Tomotani, {Barbara M.} and Salvador, {Rodrigo B.} and Sabadel, {Amandine J.M.} and Miskelly, {Colin M.} and Brown, {Julie C.S.} and Josette Delgado and Patrick Bouss{\`e}s and Yves Cherel and Waugh, {Susan M.} and Bury, {Sarah J.}",

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year = "2022",

doi = "10.1007/s00442-021-05082-8",

language = "English",

volume = "198",

pages = "67–77",

journal = "Oecologia",

issn = "0029-8549",

publisher = "Springer Verlag GmbH",

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Extreme bill dimorphism leads to different but overlapping isotopic niches and similar trophic positions in sexes of the charismatic extinct huia. / Tomotani, Barbara M. (Corresponding author); Salvador, Rodrigo B.; Sabadel, Amandine J.M. et al.
In: Oecologia, Vol. 198, No. 1, 2022, p. 67–77.

Research output: Contribution to journal/periodical › Article › Scientific › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Extreme bill dimorphism leads to different but overlapping isotopic niches and similar trophic positions in sexes of the charismatic extinct huia

AU - Tomotani, Barbara M.

AU - Salvador, Rodrigo B.

AU - Sabadel, Amandine J.M.

AU - Miskelly, Colin M.

AU - Brown, Julie C.S.

AU - Delgado, Josette

AU - Boussès, Patrick

AU - Cherel, Yves

AU - Waugh, Susan M.

AU - Bury, Sarah J.

N1 - 7345, AnE; Data archiving: BioStudies

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - The New Zealand huia (Heteralocha acutirostris) had the most extreme bill sexual dimorphism among modern birds. Given the quick extinction of the species, the cause of the dimorphism could only be hypothesised to reflect different trophic niches and reduce male/female competition. We tested that hypothesis by combining museum specimens, geometric morphometrics, and isotopic analyses. We used geometric morphometrics to describe bill shape; measured bulk (δ15Nbulk) and (δ13Cbulk) values from feather as proxies of the birds’ foraging habitat and diet; and compared compound-specific stable isotopes analyses (CSIA) of nitrogen in amino acids (δ15NAA) in male–female pairs to estimate their trophic position. Sexes had significantly different, but overlapping feather δ15Nbulk and δ13Cbulk values, but δ15NAA indicated identical trophic positions and δ15Nbulk was not related to bill shape. Trophic position was less variable among females, consistent with a specialised foraging behaviour and, thus, supporting a partial male/female foraging segregation.

AB - The New Zealand huia (Heteralocha acutirostris) had the most extreme bill sexual dimorphism among modern birds. Given the quick extinction of the species, the cause of the dimorphism could only be hypothesised to reflect different trophic niches and reduce male/female competition. We tested that hypothesis by combining museum specimens, geometric morphometrics, and isotopic analyses. We used geometric morphometrics to describe bill shape; measured bulk (δ15Nbulk) and (δ13Cbulk) values from feather as proxies of the birds’ foraging habitat and diet; and compared compound-specific stable isotopes analyses (CSIA) of nitrogen in amino acids (δ15NAA) in male–female pairs to estimate their trophic position. Sexes had significantly different, but overlapping feather δ15Nbulk and δ13Cbulk values, but δ15NAA indicated identical trophic positions and δ15Nbulk was not related to bill shape. Trophic position was less variable among females, consistent with a specialised foraging behaviour and, thus, supporting a partial male/female foraging segregation.

KW - Compound-specific stable isotopes

KW - Feeding ecology

KW - Heteralocha acutirostris

KW - Natural history collections

KW - New Zealand

KW - Passeriformes

KW - Plan_S-Compliant-OA

KW - International

UR - http://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8803797?xr=true

U2 - 10.1007/s00442-021-05082-8

DO - 10.1007/s00442-021-05082-8

M3 - Article

C2 - 34842996

AN - SCOPUS:85120049551

SN - 0029-8549

VL - 198

SP - 67

EP - 77

JO - Oecologia

JF - Oecologia

IS - 1

ER -

Extreme bill dimorphism leads to different but overlapping isotopic niches and similar trophic positions in sexes of the charismatic extinct huia

Abstract

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S-EPMC8803797: Extreme bill dimorphism leads to different but overlapping isotopic niches and similar trophic positions in sexes of the charismatic extinct huia

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Extreme bill dimorphism leads to different but overlapping isotopic niches and similar trophic positions in sexes of the charismatic extinct huia

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Keywords

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S-EPMC8803797: Extreme bill dimorphism leads to different but overlapping isotopic niches and similar trophic positions in sexes of the charismatic extinct huia

Cite this