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Preliminary Data

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For the study on Uses of Stable Isotopes to Link Seasonal Habitats and Identify Sub-populations of Migratory Shorebirds, scientists collected flight feathers from three species of shorebirds at three different wetland sites in Argentina during January 2001. Isotopic ratios of carbon and nitrogen in flight feathers show distinct differences between the three capture sites, as shown below. These results lend credence to the concept that flight feathers carry isotopic signatures indicative of a specific area.

Map and graph showing Carbon (13C) and Nitrogen (15N) ratios in shorebird feathers from three sites in Argentina.

Carbon (13C) and Nitrogen (15N) ratios in shorebird feathers from three sites in Argentina.
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