EAGER: Causes of variation in hydrogen isotopes in a pelagic seabird

生物体组织中的稳定同位素比率已成为许多不容易直接观察的因素的重要间接指标。氢的稳定同位素比率（δ氘）经常被用作动物迁移或起源位置的指标。然而，最近的数据表明，δ氘可能是一个不那么纯粹的迁移或位置的指标比一直认为。因此，重要的是要解决什么其他因素可能系统地影响δ氘的动物组织。 该项目将使用作为正在进行的夏威夷海燕研究的一部分收集的广泛数据集，以确定对海燕组织中氢稳定同位素比率变化有重大贡献的因素。这项研究有可能推翻生物生物学中常用的范式（即δ氘可直接用于推断迁移历史），并导致对δ氘技术的新的或更精确的理解和应用。该项目包括对本科生和一名研究生进行跨学科培训和辅导，以及开展公共宣传。

Stable isotope ratios in the tissues of organisms have become important indirect indicators of many factors that cannot easily be observed directly. Stable isotope ratios of hydrogen (delta deuterium) often are used as indicators of migration or location of origin of animals. However, recent data suggest that delta deuterium may be a less pure indicator of migration or location than has been thought. Thus, it is important to resolve what other factors may systematically affect the delta deuterium of animal tissues. This project will use an extensive data set that has been collected as part of an on-going study of Hawaiian petrels to identify factors that contribute significantly to variation in stable isotope ratios of hydrogen in the tissues of the petrels. This research has the potential to overturn a commonly applied paradigm in organismal biology (that delta deuterium can be used directly to infer migration histories) and result in new or refined understanding and applications of delta deuterium techniques. The project includes interdisciplinary training and mentoring of undergraduates and a graduate student, as well as public outreach.