Intraspecific variability in isotopic composition of a monomorphic seabird, the Common Tern ( Sterna hirundo ), at wintering grounds

• Published in: Emu - Austral Ornithology
• Main Authors: Lamacchia, Paola, Madrid, Enrique Alberto, Mariano y Jelicich, Rocío
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Csiro Publishing
• Subjects: Stable isotopes; isotopic niche; non-breeding period; sexual segregation; feeding ecology; terns; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1; Argentina; Common tern; Sterna hirundo
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11336/122242

Understanding sex differences in foraging behaviour has important implications for breeding biology and population ecology. This requires the evaluation of segregation throughout the annual cycle, including the non-breeding period. We studied the diet and foraging strategies of the Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) at an intraspecific level by sampling birds during two consecutive non-breeding periods in Punta Rasa, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Blood samples were taken for sex determination and carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis. No isotopic difference was observed between years, but higher isotopic values occurred during late non-breeding period. Carbon and nitrogen isotopic values were similar between sexes; however, differences were observed in standard ellipse analyses, considered to represent isotopic niches. Even though the Bayesian ellipse areas overlapped, females showed wider isotopic niches throughout the non-breeding period. This could be related to different feeding strategies, foraging areas or migratory stopover sites at either intraspecific or individual levels. Diet contributions of different prey categories estimated through mixing model analyses suggested a higher contribution of estuarine fish than of marine pelagic species. These results highlight the importance of stable isotope analyses as a complementary methodology to traditional diet studies, particularly during the non-breeding period. Fil: Lamacchia, Paola. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Cs.exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Vertebrados; Argentina Fil: Madrid, Enrique Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Cs.exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Vertebrados; Argentina Fil: Mariano y Jelicich, Rocío. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y ...