Capturing seasonal variations in faecal nutrient content from tundra herbivores using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy DOI Creative Commons
Mathilde Defourneaux, Laura Barbero-Palacios, Jonas Schoelynck

et al.

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 981, P. 179548 - 179548

Published: May 9, 2025

Herbivores contribute to nutrient cycling in tundra ecosystems through their waste (e.g., faeces, urine). However, contribution might vary among species and over time during the growing season likely due differences body size, digestive physiology, variations diet composition quality. Capturing fine-scale variability requires intensive sampling, but traditional wet-lab methods for measuring concentration stoichiometry animal faeces are prohibitively expensive. To address this challenge, we developed a low-cost alternative using Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS). We calibrated general model main Icelandic herbivores (i.e., pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrynchus, reindeer, Rangifer tarandus sheep, Ovis aries) assess faecal concentrations (nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon) (C:N, C:P, N:P). This was achieved set of 191 fresh samples scanned with NIRS analysed by methods. The multispecies models explained between 76 91 % variation samples. then applied 300 assessed changes concentration, three throughout season.We found that quality varied herbivore species, sheep reindeer generally having more similar than geese. Seasonality also affected content, decrease N P an increase C:N C:P ratios, especially Geese contributed disproportionately pools rangelands high defecation rate large population. These results provide important insights into how different can influence biogeochemistry nutrient-limited season, content herbivores.

Language: Английский

Capturing seasonal variations in faecal nutrient content from tundra herbivores using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy DOI Creative Commons
Mathilde Defourneaux, Laura Barbero-Palacios, Jonas Schoelynck

et al.

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 981, P. 179548 - 179548

Published: May 9, 2025

Herbivores contribute to nutrient cycling in tundra ecosystems through their waste (e.g., faeces, urine). However, contribution might vary among species and over time during the growing season likely due differences body size, digestive physiology, variations diet composition quality. Capturing fine-scale variability requires intensive sampling, but traditional wet-lab methods for measuring concentration stoichiometry animal faeces are prohibitively expensive. To address this challenge, we developed a low-cost alternative using Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS). We calibrated general model main Icelandic herbivores (i.e., pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrynchus, reindeer, Rangifer tarandus sheep, Ovis aries) assess faecal concentrations (nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon) (C:N, C:P, N:P). This was achieved set of 191 fresh samples scanned with NIRS analysed by methods. The multispecies models explained between 76 91 % variation samples. then applied 300 assessed changes concentration, three throughout season.We found that quality varied herbivore species, sheep reindeer generally having more similar than geese. Seasonality also affected content, decrease N P an increase C:N C:P ratios, especially Geese contributed disproportionately pools rangelands high defecation rate large population. These results provide important insights into how different can influence biogeochemistry nutrient-limited season, content herbivores.

Language: Английский

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