Abstract:

This dataset lists amino acid stable isotope ratios (delta-13C-AA) for samples collected in April-June 2014 in the salt marshes of Barataria Bay, Louisiana. Amino acid stable isotope analysis (SIA-AA) was performed at Louisiana State University in 2015 and 2016 on seaside sparrow livers and invertebrate and plant tissues. Sample collection information for seaside sparrows in this dataset are provided in a subset file of GRIIDC dataset R4.x264.000:0015 (2011-2014 Sample Key) and for invertebrates in a subset file of GRIIDC dataset R4.x264.000:0068 (2014 Invertebrate Sample Key). Samples may be cross-referenced using the DATABASE ID.

Suggested Citation:

Johnson, Jessica J., Polito, Michael J.. 2018. 2014 Amino Acid Stable Isotope Data for Characterizing Carbon Source Use in the Seaside Sparrow in Barataria Bay using Invertebrate Proxies for Salt Marsh Primary Production. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7FT8JDR

Publications:

Johnson, J. J., Olin, J. A., & Polito, M. J. (2019). A multi‐biomarker approach supports the use of compound‐specific stable isotope analysis of amino acids to quantify basal carbon source use in a salt marsh consumer. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry. doi:10.1002/rcm.8538

Purpose:

The delta-13C-AA of essential amino acids were used to characterize carbon source usage in the seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus) using invertebrate proxies for marsh primary producers. Essential amino acids incorporate into consumer tissues from the diet with minimal modification, and they act as tracers of basal carbon energy in a food web.

Data Parameters and Units:

File: R4.x264.221-0001_2014_CSIA_SESP_prey_sub3.xlsx Carbon stable isotope ratios (delta-13C) are reported in per mil units (‰) for Seaside Sparrows (xlsx tab "SESP SIA-AA") and for invertebrate and plant tissues (xlsx tab "PREY SIA-AA"). DATABASE ID: code assigned to every sample collected TISSUE: part of organism analyzed for SIA-AA d13C_VAL: stable carbon isotope ratio (delta-13C) of valine in ‰ d13C_ILE: stable carbon isotope ratio (delta-13C) of isoleucine in ‰ d13C_LEU: stable carbon isotope ratio (delta-13C) of leucine in ‰ d13C_THR: stable carbon isotope ratio (delta-13C) of threonine in ‰ d13C_PHE: stable carbon isotope ratio (delta-13C) of phenylalanine in ‰ File: subset_R4.x264.000-0068_2014_Invertebrate_SampleKey.xlsx A subset of the complete 2014 Invertebrate Sample Key file (GRIIDC dataset R4.x264.000:0068), containing only the samples in this amino acid stable isotope dataset. FIELD ID: code assigned in the field for each sample DATABASE ID: code assigned to samples in the lab Year Collected: Year of collection Month Collected: Month of collection Site ID: names assigned by our group to different marsh sites Latitude: in decimal degrees Longitude: in decimal degrees Gear: type of gear used to collect the sample Common Name: generally used name Order/Family: classification Tissue Collected: type of tissue (whole-body, muscle or leaf) collected File: subset_R4.x264.000-0015_2011-2014 SESP sample key.xlsx A subset of the complete 2011-2014 SESP Sample Key file (GRIIDC dataset R4.x264.000:0015), containing only the samples in this amino acid stable isotope dataset. FIELD ID: code assigned in the field for each sample DATABASE ID: code assigned to samples in the lab Collection Date: day, month and year of collection Site ID: names assigned by our group to different marsh sites Latitude: in decimal degrees Longitude: in decimal degrees Gear: type of gear used to collect the sample Common Name: generally used name Scientific Name: genus and species, or only genus when species is unknown Weight: in grams Sex: male, female, or not available (unidentified) Age Estimate: A- adult; AHY-adult hatch year; HY-hatch year Tissue Collected: type of tissue (left liver lobe or left pectoral muscle) collected

Methods:

Amino acids were derivatized with methylchloroformate, and measured derivative delta-13C was corrected for exogenous carbon and kinetic fractionation using the delta-13C of derivatized amino acid standards of known isotopic composition, as in Walsh et al. (2014) Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 28: 96-108. The standards used to correct the amino acid carbon stable isotope values were purified amino acids (L-Valine, CAS 72-18-4; L-Leucine, CAS 61-90-5; L-Isoleucine, 443-79-8; L-Threonine, CAS 72-19-5; and L-Phenylalanine, CAS 63-91-2) and an internal fish standard.

Instruments:

Derivatized amino acids were separated on a Trace 1310 Gas Chromatograph (Thermo Scientific) interfaced with a GC Isolink II (Thermo Scientific). The carbon stable isotope ratios were measured on a Delta V Advantage Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (Thermo Scientific).

Error Analysis:

The delta-13C-AA values are means of triplicate injections from each sample. All samples were analyzed in runs with six injections each of AA and fish muscle standards (mean precision AA standard: Val ±0.2‰, Ile ±0.3‰, Leu ±0.2‰, Thr ±0.6‰, Phe ±0.6‰; fish standard: Val ±0.2‰, Ile ±0.3‰, Leu ±0.2‰, Thr ±0.9‰, Phe ±0.5‰).

Provenance and Historical References:

Walsh, R.G., He, S., and C.T. Yarnes (2014). Compound specific δ13C and δ15N analysis of amino acids: a rapid, chloroformate‐based method for ecological studies. Rapid. Commun. Mass Spectrom. 28(1): 96-108 doi: 10.1002/rcm.6761

Individual Files: