An experimental exploration of the incorporation of hydrogen isotopes from dietary sources into avian tissues.

The analysis of hydrogen stable isotopes (δD) is a potentially powerful tool for studying animal ecology. Unlike other stable isotopes used in ecological research, however, we are less familiar with the physiological processes that influence the incorporation of hydrogen isotopes from dietary resources to animal tissues. Here we present the results of a controlled feeding experiment utilizing Japanese quail (Cortunix japonica) that was designed to: (1) estimate the relative contributions of diet to the δD signatures of blood plasma, red blood cells, intestine, liver, muscle and feathers; (2) investigate possible differences among these same tissues in diet to tissue discrimination; and (3) explore the differences in incorporation dynamics between deuterium ((2)H) and a well-studied isotope, (13)C, for blood plasma solids and red blood cells. Tissues differed in both the relative contribution of diet to tissue δD and diet to tissue discrimination. The average residence time of both hydrogen and carbon was significantly lower in plasma solids than in red blood cells. The average residence time of hydrogen was significantly lower than that of carbon in plasma solids, but not in red blood cells. Although the average residence times of hydrogen and carbon were positively correlated, the correlation was weak. Hence the incorporation of carbon seems to be a poor predictor of that of hydrogen.