Stable Isotope Analysis of Feathers as a Potential Method for Distinguishing Individual Birds
Yong Bin Zhao1, Hui Song1, Guo Gong Yi1*, Xi Lian Hao1, Bai Wang2, Zhi Wen Chen2
1College of Life Science, Jilin Normal University, Siping 136000, Jilin Province, P.R. China
2College of Tourism and Geographical Science, Jilin Normal University, Siping 136000, Jilin Province, P.R. China.
* Corresponding author: guodongyi@126.com
Fig. 1.
Values of δ13C and δ15N in different parts of the feathers from the pigeons.
Note that the horizontal coordinates are feather samples. For example, sample1_B indicates the barbules of the feathers from sample1, and sample1_R indicates the rachis of the feathers from sample1.
Fig. 2.
Cluster analysis based on the isotope values in different parts of the feathers. A, Scatterplot matrices from the values of δ13C and δ15N of barbules and rachis. B, Hierarchical cluster from the values of the isotopes from the barbules and rachis. C, Hierarchical cluster from the values of δ13C and δ15N from the barbules. D, Hierarchical cluster from the values of δ13C and δ15N from the rachis.