Lecture 14 (18)

Question 1

How can you tell what an animal has been eating?

Answer 1

By looking at ratios of stable isotopes in animals tissues

Using isotopes of carbon and nitrogen

Question 2

What isotopes would tell us if an animal has been eating marine life?

Answer 2

13 C

Question 3

What would a isotope of 15N imply?

Answer 3

That the animal has been feeding high up in the food chain

Question 4

Can feathers be used to see what a bird as been eating?

Answer 4

Feathers grow at different rates

1. Growing primary feathers indicate diet in days immediately before bird was shot
2. Newly grown primaries indicate diet 2-3 weeks before
3. Lesser coverts indicate diet average over period June-November

Question 5

What are the regulations on moving sheep?

Answer 5

Sheep can be transported for 14 hours than after a 1 hour break off the vehicle with food and water, then for another 14 hours

Question 6

Are there issues with the current regulations on sheep transport?

Answer 6

Potential mixing with unfamiliar animals on hour break
There is a chance for competitive social interactions regarding food, so potential for injury
If nuts are giving for food sheep will have a large water debt (welfare issue)

Question 7

What are the issues with fur farmed mink?

Answer 7

In the wild they spend a large amount of time swimming.

Welfare issue of not being able to swim on farms. As increase in cortisol levels in urine