Fractionation of nitrogen isotopes by animals: a further complication to the use of variations in the natural abundance of ¹⁵N for tracer studies
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Citation
Export citationSteele, K.W. & Daniel, R.M. (1978). Fractionation of nitrogen isotopes by animals: a further complication to the use of variations in the natural abundance of ¹⁵N for tracer studies. The Journal of Agricultural Science, 90, 7-9.
Permanent Research Commons link: https://hdl.handle.net/10289/4600
Abstract
A study of the fractionation of nitrogen isotopes in the diet by cattle is described and the results discussed. Compared with the diet, urine had a lower ratio of ¹⁵N to ¹⁴N, but faeces, blood and milk all had a higher ratio. It is argued that the use of natural ¹⁵N as a tracer in grazed ecosystems is more complicated than was at first thought.
Date
1978Type
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
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This article has been published in the journal: The Journal of Agricultural Science. © 1978 Cambridge University Press.