A large molluscivore bird (Common Eider, Somateria mollissima) is able to discriminate quality of blue mussels ( Mytilus edulis) based on size and provenance
Molluscivore birds that forage on abundant but low-quality food have to ingest large quantities of food to achieve energy balance. Such a strategy is often associated with important digestive constraints limiting predator’s ingestion. Thus, these predators may use prey selection to ingest better-qua...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
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Canadian Science Publishing
2015
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2015-0046 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/cjz-2015-0046 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/cjz-2015-0046 |
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/cjz-2015-0046 2024-09-15T18:02:41+00:00 A large molluscivore bird (Common Eider, Somateria mollissima) is able to discriminate quality of blue mussels ( Mytilus edulis) based on size and provenance Varennes, Elisabeth Hanssen, Sveinn A. Bonardelli, John C. Guillemette, Magella 2015 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2015-0046 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/cjz-2015-0046 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/cjz-2015-0046 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 93, issue 8, page 655-663 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 journal-article 2015 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2015-0046 2024-07-04T04:09:59Z Molluscivore birds that forage on abundant but low-quality food have to ingest large quantities of food to achieve energy balance. Such a strategy is often associated with important digestive constraints limiting predator’s ingestion. Thus, these predators may use prey selection to ingest better-quality individuals among a generally low-quality prey population. Using captive Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima (L., 1758)) diving in a constant environment, we were able to examine their preferences for blue mussels (Mytilus edulis L., 1758) of varying qualities (different sizes or provenances). In addition, we studied the consequences prey selection had on Eiders’ energy intake rates and ingestion of flesh and shell material. Eiders selected 10–20 mm mussels and were able to discriminate and to select cultivated mussels from intertidal mussels. Prey selection allowed, in certain conditions of prey-size abundance, higher flesh and energy intake rates without increasing the ingestion of shell material. This study confirmed the energetic advantage that Eiders have when foraging in aquaculture sites, which explain the large depredation of preferred mussel sizes. Article in Journal/Newspaper Common Eider Somateria mollissima Canadian Science Publishing Canadian Journal of Zoology 93 8 655 663 |
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Open Polar |
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Canadian Science Publishing |
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crcansciencepubl |
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English |
description |
Molluscivore birds that forage on abundant but low-quality food have to ingest large quantities of food to achieve energy balance. Such a strategy is often associated with important digestive constraints limiting predator’s ingestion. Thus, these predators may use prey selection to ingest better-quality individuals among a generally low-quality prey population. Using captive Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima (L., 1758)) diving in a constant environment, we were able to examine their preferences for blue mussels (Mytilus edulis L., 1758) of varying qualities (different sizes or provenances). In addition, we studied the consequences prey selection had on Eiders’ energy intake rates and ingestion of flesh and shell material. Eiders selected 10–20 mm mussels and were able to discriminate and to select cultivated mussels from intertidal mussels. Prey selection allowed, in certain conditions of prey-size abundance, higher flesh and energy intake rates without increasing the ingestion of shell material. This study confirmed the energetic advantage that Eiders have when foraging in aquaculture sites, which explain the large depredation of preferred mussel sizes. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Varennes, Elisabeth Hanssen, Sveinn A. Bonardelli, John C. Guillemette, Magella |
spellingShingle |
Varennes, Elisabeth Hanssen, Sveinn A. Bonardelli, John C. Guillemette, Magella A large molluscivore bird (Common Eider, Somateria mollissima) is able to discriminate quality of blue mussels ( Mytilus edulis) based on size and provenance |
author_facet |
Varennes, Elisabeth Hanssen, Sveinn A. Bonardelli, John C. Guillemette, Magella |
author_sort |
Varennes, Elisabeth |
title |
A large molluscivore bird (Common Eider, Somateria mollissima) is able to discriminate quality of blue mussels ( Mytilus edulis) based on size and provenance |
title_short |
A large molluscivore bird (Common Eider, Somateria mollissima) is able to discriminate quality of blue mussels ( Mytilus edulis) based on size and provenance |
title_full |
A large molluscivore bird (Common Eider, Somateria mollissima) is able to discriminate quality of blue mussels ( Mytilus edulis) based on size and provenance |
title_fullStr |
A large molluscivore bird (Common Eider, Somateria mollissima) is able to discriminate quality of blue mussels ( Mytilus edulis) based on size and provenance |
title_full_unstemmed |
A large molluscivore bird (Common Eider, Somateria mollissima) is able to discriminate quality of blue mussels ( Mytilus edulis) based on size and provenance |
title_sort |
large molluscivore bird (common eider, somateria mollissima) is able to discriminate quality of blue mussels ( mytilus edulis) based on size and provenance |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2015-0046 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/cjz-2015-0046 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/cjz-2015-0046 |
genre |
Common Eider Somateria mollissima |
genre_facet |
Common Eider Somateria mollissima |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 93, issue 8, page 655-663 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2015-0046 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
93 |
container_issue |
8 |
container_start_page |
655 |
op_container_end_page |
663 |
_version_ |
1810440116390330368 |