Avian claw morphometry and growth determine the temporal pattern of archived stable isotopes

Abstract

Detailed knowledge about claw formation and growth rate is a prerequisite for the interpretation of avian claw stable isotopes, as is commonly done with feather stable isotopes to e.g. infer habitat use, dietary pecialisations, and spatial occurrence. In this study, we provide basic information about claw formation and empirical evidence about the time scaleof archiving isotopic information to develop a reliable assessment of archived isotopic pattern in claws of passerines. Avian claws grow conically from the tip of the bone of the phalanx. Th e length of the tip of an avian claw, suitable for stable isotope analysis, is about 42 6.8% (SD) of total linear claw length and can also be estimated from the body mass of a given species. Claw growth rate in adult songbirds typically ranged between 0.03 and 0.05 mm d 1 , but diff ered between front and back toes, and varied seasonally. From the claw growth rate, the archiving period of a given claw length can be estimated. In long-distance migrant species, δ 13 C of claws matched δ 13 C of feathers grown during the same period (wintering or breeding period). In Palaearctic-African migrants sampled in the breeding season, δ 13 C of the distal half of the claw tip refl ected the African wintering site, while the proximal half refl ected a blend of African and European δ 13 C signatures, as expected. Hence there is empirical evidence that entire claw tips mirror the isotopic environments over longer periods (up to months), and over weeks when parts can be analysed. However any part of a claw contains a blend of material formed at diff erent times due to the claw ’ s conical (i.e. longitudinal and lateral) growth. Avian claws providea complementary isotope archive for investigations, but its applicability may vary according to the ecology of the study species.