What We Hope to Learn:

Recently advanced biochemical tracking methods involve the analysis of dietary biomarkers (i.e. fatty acid signature analysis coupled with stable isotope analysis) and offer new and sophisticated ways to investigate foraging ecology in marine species. These techniques also provide minimally invasive alternatives to assess diets and foraging patterns in stressed and endangered species. Our project will advance methods to understand foraging ecology, nutrient pathways, and critical habitat characteristics of threatened sea duck populations in the North Pacific ecosystem.