Year: 2026
Type: paratext
Abstract: COVER PHOTO: In many ecological systems, the extent of intra-population variation in the resources that animals consume and the environmental factors that contribute to this variance remain poorly understood. Dubour et al. (Ecosphere, Volume 16, Issue 12, Article e70513; doi: 10.1002/ecs2.70513) use a stable isotope approach to quantify intraspecific diet variation of an avian consumer, the lesser scaup (Aythya affinis), across a large geographic area and test for effects of resource variability on niche partitioning. The abundant wetlands in Alaska's boreal interior, shown here captured by drone, provide critical habitat—and diverse foraging opportunities—for many migratory birds, including lesser scaup ducklings. Although the authors did not detect an effect of macroinvertebrate abundance on the diets of pre-fledging scaup, their findings indicate that ducklings have greater dietary flexibility than previously considered. The research results facilitate improved predictions of which species might be best adapted to respond to changing environmental conditions in North America's western boreal forest. Photo credit: Mark Lindberg.
Source: Ecosphere
DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.70523
Language: English
Topic: Isotope Analysis in Ecology
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,430
OpenAlex ID: W7119052931
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