Animals exhibit enriched heavy nitrogen and carbon isotopes relative to plants

the verdict

SUPPORTED

the evidence backs this

Recorded sources

2 sources for · 0 against

Counts group repeated records of the same source within each side. They do not measure evidence strength or source independence.

Animals consistently show enriched levels of heavy carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes relative to their plant or dietary sources due to trophic fractionation.

The analysis

The retrieved papers consistently support the well-established biogeochemical principle that consumers (animals) exhibit enriched heavy nitrogen (15N) and carbon (13C) isotopes relative to their primary producers or dietary sources (plants).

Evidence for · 2

Trophic level isotopic enrichment of carbon and nitrogen in bone collagen: case studies from recent and ancient terrestrial ecosystems

Recorded source metadata

H. Bocherens, D. Drucker. Trophic level isotopic enrichment of carbon and nitrogen in bone collagen: case studies from recent and ancient terrestrial ecosystems. 2003. https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.662

This study demonstrates that consumers exhibit positive isotopic enrichment values for both carbon and nitrogen relative to their prey, consistent with the claim.

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More for · 1

The effect of dietary nitrogen content on trophic level <sup>15</sup>N enrichment

Recorded source metadata

Thomas S. Adams, Robert W. Sterner. The effect of dietary nitrogen content on trophic level <sup>15</sup>N enrichment. 2000. https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.2000.45.3.0601

This controlled laboratory study documents trophic level 15N enrichment in animals relative to their algal diet.

Source citation format

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first checked01 Aug 2026

judged → SUPPORTED · 9301 Aug 2026

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