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

生物体组织中稳定的同位素比率已经成为许多不容易直接观察到的因素的重要间接指标。氢的稳定同位素比率(德尔塔重氢)经常被用作动物迁徙或起源地点的指标。然而，最近的数据表明，德尔塔氚可能不像人们所认为的那样是迁移或位置的纯粹指示器。因此，重要的是要解决哪些其他因素可能会系统性地影响动物组织的德尔塔氚。该项目将使用作为正在进行的夏威夷海燕研究的一部分而收集的大量数据集，以确定显著影响海燕组织中氢的稳定同位素比率变化的因素。这项研究有可能颠覆生物生物学中一个普遍应用的范式(可以直接使用德尔塔氚来推断迁移史)，并导致对德尔塔氚技术的新的或更精细的理解和应用。该项目包括对本科生和一名研究生的跨学科培训和指导，以及公众宣传。

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.