Welcome to the new version of CaltechAUTHORS. Login is currently restricted to library staff. If you notice any issues, please email coda@library.caltech.edu
Published May 1978 | public
Journal Article

Influence of diet on the distribution of carbon isotopes in animals

Abstract

The influence of diet on the distribution of carbon isotopes in animals was investigated by analyzing animals grown in the laboratory on diets of constant carbon isotopic composition. The isotopic composition of the whole body of an animal reflects the isotopic composition of its diet, but the animal is on average enriched in δ^(13)C by about 1‰ relative to the diet. In three of the four cases examined, the ^(13)C enrichment of the whole body relative to the diet is balanced by a ^(13)C depletion of the respired CO_2. The isotopic relationships between the whole bodies of animals and their diets are similar for different species raised on the same diet and for the same species raised on different diets. However, the δ^(13)C values of whole bodies of individuals of a species raised on the same diet may differ by up to 2‰. The relationship between the ^(13)C/^(12)C ratio of a tissue and the ^(13)C/^(12)C ratio of the diet depends both on the type of tissue and on the nature of the diet. Many of the isotopic relationships among the major biochemical fractions, namely the lipid, carbohydrate and protein fractions, are qualitatively preserved as diet carbon is incorporated into the animal. However, the difference between the δ^(13)C values of a biochemical fraction in an animal and in its diet may be as large as 3‰. The δ^(13)C values of the biochemical components collagen, chitin and the insoluble organic fraction of shells, all of which are often preserved in fossil material, are related to the isotopic composition of the diet. These results indicate that it will be possible to perform dietary analysis based on the determination of the ^(13)C/^(12)C ratio of animal carbon. Analysis of the total animal carbon will in most cases provide a better measure of diet than the analysis of individual tissues, biochemical fractions, or biochemical components. The limits of accuracy of this method will generally restrict its application to situations in which the diet is derived from sources with relatively large differences in their δ^(13)C values, such as terrestrial vs aquatic organisms or C_3 vs C_4 plants. The method should be applicable to fossil as well as to living material.

Additional Information

© 1978 Pergamon Press Ltd. Received 8 August 1977; accepted in revised form 4 January 1978. The following either provided or aided in culturing animals raised on diets of constant carbon isotopic composition: B. A. ALSETH, C. D. JOHNSON, G. G. LYON and B. G. SWART, all of the California Institute of Technology; J. BAKER, San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Parlier, California; H. H. CROWELL, Oregon State University; J. A. ONSAGER, Rangeland Insect Laboratory, Bozeman, Montana; R. E. PFADT, University of Wyoming; and J. G. RIEMANN, Metabolism and Radiation Research Laboratory, Fargo, North Dakota. J. H. GORIS performed the mass spectrometric analysis. W. H. KLEIN and R. M. POTTER provided helpful discussion. The manuscript was critically reviewed by T. C. HOERING, W. H. KLEIN, P. L. PARKER, R. M. POTTER, S. M. SAVIN, B. N. SMITH and C. J. Y APP. This work was supported by National Science Foundation grant EAR76-22751 A01.

Additional details

Created:
August 19, 2023
Modified:
October 25, 2023