UC San Diego

The Colorado River Delta is one of the most impacted wetland systems in the world and has experienced massive habitat loss owing to severe restrictions in freshwater inflow as a result of dam construction and diversion of water for irrigation. However, the delta still offers nesting and foraging habitats for waterbirds, although the habitats available are highly fragmented and limited. Stable isotope ratio (SIR) analysis was used to assess quantitatively isotopic niche width of gull-billed terns (Gelochelidon nilotica), laughing gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla) and snowy egrets (Egreta thula) that nest at an inland and coastal location. The variance in carbon and nitrogen SIR of egg albumen indicated that inland colonies have a much broader isotope niche width (range 2.9 to 23.9) than coastal colonies (<0.1 to 1.4).Species-specific mean albumen δ13C values from inland nests were significantly more depleted in 13C than coastal colonies (-19.5 to -23.1‰ and -10.4 to -14.9‰, respectively). Comparison of albumen δ13C values corrected for trophic fractionation with those of potential prey and primary producers collected at 10 potential foraging grounds indicates that females of the three species that nest in inland colonies did not feed in habitats located in the vicinity of their nesting site, while coastal colonies had distinct isotopic signatures reflecting marine primary production. Inland colonies probably forage in a variety of habitats and for different prey, relying on food webs based mostly on C3 terrestrial plants. Differences in the isotopic composition of eggs from species nesting in the same area and between conspecifics nesting in different habitats indicate that foraging habitats vary substantially, suggesting that feeding varies as a function of local resource availability. These results suggest that a variety of habitat types fulfill the foraging needs of this suite of nesting waterbird species, especially in inland colonies. Since the specific feeding areas of nesting females from the inland colonies have not been identified, protection of the remaining wetlands within the Colorado River Delta is warranted. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.