Home > Research > Publications & Outputs > Using stable isotope analyses to identify alloc...

Research

Links

Text available via DOI:

Keywords

View graph of relations

Using stable isotope analyses to identify allochthonous inputs to Lake Naivasha mediated via the hippopotamus gut

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Published

Standard

Using stable isotope analyses to identify allochthonous inputs to Lake Naivasha mediated via the hippopotamus gut. / Grey, Jonathan; Harper, David .
In: Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies, Vol. 38, No. 4, 2002, p. 245-250.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Harvard

Grey, J & Harper, D 2002, 'Using stable isotope analyses to identify allochthonous inputs to Lake Naivasha mediated via the hippopotamus gut', Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies, vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 245-250. https://doi.org/10.1080/10256010208033269

APA

Grey, J., & Harper, D. (2002). Using stable isotope analyses to identify allochthonous inputs to Lake Naivasha mediated via the hippopotamus gut. Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies, 38(4), 245-250. https://doi.org/10.1080/10256010208033269

Vancouver

Grey J, Harper D. Using stable isotope analyses to identify allochthonous inputs to Lake Naivasha mediated via the hippopotamus gut. Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies. 2002;38(4):245-250. doi: 10.1080/10256010208033269

Author

Grey, Jonathan ; Harper, David . / Using stable isotope analyses to identify allochthonous inputs to Lake Naivasha mediated via the hippopotamus gut. In: Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies. 2002 ; Vol. 38, No. 4. pp. 245-250.

Bibtex

@article{85bcefd8998c4576ad92fa829eaaaf54,
title = "Using stable isotope analyses to identify allochthonous inputs to Lake Naivasha mediated via the hippopotamus gut",
abstract = "The hippopotamus grazes nocturnally on land and resides in water during the day. Much of the ingested material must therefore be defecated directly into the aquatic system and can thus be considered an allochthonous resource available to aquatic consumers. The utility of stable isotope analyses of carbon and nitrogen to distinguish hippo faecal matter from other potential basal resources was tested at Lake Naivasha, Kenya. Hippopotami proved faithful to a short grass diet although supplementary grazing of aquatic macrophytes was observed. The typical isotopic ratios of C4 grasses ingested were not altered substantially by gut processes, and were clearly distinct from algal and aquatic macrophyte isotopic ratios. However, marginal plants such as Cyperus papyrus exhibit C4 ratios, and so the technique is suitable only for use in localities where {\textquoteleft}contamination{\textquoteright} from such sources is negligible.",
keywords = "Allochthonous, C4 plants, Carbon 13, Hippopotamus, Lake Naivasha, Natural variations, Nitrogen 15",
author = "Jonathan Grey and David Harper",
year = "2002",
doi = "10.1080/10256010208033269",
language = "English",
volume = "38",
pages = "245--250",
journal = "Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies",
issn = "1025-6016",
publisher = "Taylor and Francis Ltd.",
number = "4",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Using stable isotope analyses to identify allochthonous inputs to Lake Naivasha mediated via the hippopotamus gut

AU - Grey, Jonathan

AU - Harper, David

PY - 2002

Y1 - 2002

N2 - The hippopotamus grazes nocturnally on land and resides in water during the day. Much of the ingested material must therefore be defecated directly into the aquatic system and can thus be considered an allochthonous resource available to aquatic consumers. The utility of stable isotope analyses of carbon and nitrogen to distinguish hippo faecal matter from other potential basal resources was tested at Lake Naivasha, Kenya. Hippopotami proved faithful to a short grass diet although supplementary grazing of aquatic macrophytes was observed. The typical isotopic ratios of C4 grasses ingested were not altered substantially by gut processes, and were clearly distinct from algal and aquatic macrophyte isotopic ratios. However, marginal plants such as Cyperus papyrus exhibit C4 ratios, and so the technique is suitable only for use in localities where ‘contamination’ from such sources is negligible.

AB - The hippopotamus grazes nocturnally on land and resides in water during the day. Much of the ingested material must therefore be defecated directly into the aquatic system and can thus be considered an allochthonous resource available to aquatic consumers. The utility of stable isotope analyses of carbon and nitrogen to distinguish hippo faecal matter from other potential basal resources was tested at Lake Naivasha, Kenya. Hippopotami proved faithful to a short grass diet although supplementary grazing of aquatic macrophytes was observed. The typical isotopic ratios of C4 grasses ingested were not altered substantially by gut processes, and were clearly distinct from algal and aquatic macrophyte isotopic ratios. However, marginal plants such as Cyperus papyrus exhibit C4 ratios, and so the technique is suitable only for use in localities where ‘contamination’ from such sources is negligible.

KW - Allochthonous

KW - C4 plants

KW - Carbon 13

KW - Hippopotamus

KW - Lake Naivasha

KW - Natural variations

KW - Nitrogen 15

U2 - 10.1080/10256010208033269

DO - 10.1080/10256010208033269

M3 - Journal article

VL - 38

SP - 245

EP - 250

JO - Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies

JF - Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies

SN - 1025-6016

IS - 4

ER -