Rockhopper Penguin–Imperial Cormorant mixed colonies in the Falkland Islands: a stroke of luck for late breeders
Mixed-species colonies occur frequently, especially among seabirds, and may provide mutual benefits among associated species including antipredator advantages. The “protector” species in such associations may provide early warning signals or by aggressively defending their own nests, may expel preda...
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Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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Ecological Society of America
2020
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Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/224806 https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3272 |
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ftcsic:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/224806 2024-02-11T10:07:57+01:00 Rockhopper Penguin–Imperial Cormorant mixed colonies in the Falkland Islands: a stroke of luck for late breeders Morandini, Virginia Dugger, Katie M. Ainley, David Ferrer, Miguel 2020 http://hdl.handle.net/10261/224806 https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3272 en eng Ecological Society of America Publisher's version https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3272 Sí Ecosphere, 11 (2020) http://hdl.handle.net/10261/224806 doi:10.1002/ecs2.3272 open artículo http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501 2020 ftcsic https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3272 2024-01-16T11:00:23Z Mixed-species colonies occur frequently, especially among seabirds, and may provide mutual benefits among associated species including antipredator advantages. The “protector” species in such associations may provide early warning signals or by aggressively defending their own nests, may expel predators from the area. We explored costs and benefits to Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome) in relation to offspring production in both monospecific colonies and those mixed with Imperial Cormorants (Phalacrocorax atriceps) at Saunders Island (Falkland Islands), emphasizing differences in predation pressure. We considered behavioral responses of chicks (in creches), as well as differences in their nutritional ` condition, morphometric measurements, and survival compared among different breeding colonies. Our study revealed a paradox: High-quality adult penguins, those arriving early and occupying lower-elevation sites closer to the coast, produced better-nourished chicks earlier in the season. However, they averaged half the number of chicks fledged, compared to breeders that arrived later in the season. Late breeders were forced by unavailability of optimal habitat to nest in more elevated areas, forming mixed colonies with cormorants, which, in turn, provided them with protection from nest predators. This study provides an example of the role of luck in nature, and how it may compensate for differences in individual fitness. Peer reviewed Article in Journal/Newspaper Phalacrocorax atriceps Rockhopper penguin Saunders Island Digital.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council) Protector ENVELOPE(-66.217,-66.217,-66.717,-66.717) Saunders ENVELOPE(-45.316,-45.316,-60.700,-60.700) Saunders Island ENVELOPE(-26.450,-26.450,-57.783,-57.783) Ecosphere 11 11 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Digital.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council) |
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ftcsic |
language |
English |
description |
Mixed-species colonies occur frequently, especially among seabirds, and may provide mutual benefits among associated species including antipredator advantages. The “protector” species in such associations may provide early warning signals or by aggressively defending their own nests, may expel predators from the area. We explored costs and benefits to Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome) in relation to offspring production in both monospecific colonies and those mixed with Imperial Cormorants (Phalacrocorax atriceps) at Saunders Island (Falkland Islands), emphasizing differences in predation pressure. We considered behavioral responses of chicks (in creches), as well as differences in their nutritional ` condition, morphometric measurements, and survival compared among different breeding colonies. Our study revealed a paradox: High-quality adult penguins, those arriving early and occupying lower-elevation sites closer to the coast, produced better-nourished chicks earlier in the season. However, they averaged half the number of chicks fledged, compared to breeders that arrived later in the season. Late breeders were forced by unavailability of optimal habitat to nest in more elevated areas, forming mixed colonies with cormorants, which, in turn, provided them with protection from nest predators. This study provides an example of the role of luck in nature, and how it may compensate for differences in individual fitness. Peer reviewed |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Morandini, Virginia Dugger, Katie M. Ainley, David Ferrer, Miguel |
spellingShingle |
Morandini, Virginia Dugger, Katie M. Ainley, David Ferrer, Miguel Rockhopper Penguin–Imperial Cormorant mixed colonies in the Falkland Islands: a stroke of luck for late breeders |
author_facet |
Morandini, Virginia Dugger, Katie M. Ainley, David Ferrer, Miguel |
author_sort |
Morandini, Virginia |
title |
Rockhopper Penguin–Imperial Cormorant mixed colonies in the Falkland Islands: a stroke of luck for late breeders |
title_short |
Rockhopper Penguin–Imperial Cormorant mixed colonies in the Falkland Islands: a stroke of luck for late breeders |
title_full |
Rockhopper Penguin–Imperial Cormorant mixed colonies in the Falkland Islands: a stroke of luck for late breeders |
title_fullStr |
Rockhopper Penguin–Imperial Cormorant mixed colonies in the Falkland Islands: a stroke of luck for late breeders |
title_full_unstemmed |
Rockhopper Penguin–Imperial Cormorant mixed colonies in the Falkland Islands: a stroke of luck for late breeders |
title_sort |
rockhopper penguin–imperial cormorant mixed colonies in the falkland islands: a stroke of luck for late breeders |
publisher |
Ecological Society of America |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10261/224806 https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3272 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-66.217,-66.217,-66.717,-66.717) ENVELOPE(-45.316,-45.316,-60.700,-60.700) ENVELOPE(-26.450,-26.450,-57.783,-57.783) |
geographic |
Protector Saunders Saunders Island |
geographic_facet |
Protector Saunders Saunders Island |
genre |
Phalacrocorax atriceps Rockhopper penguin Saunders Island |
genre_facet |
Phalacrocorax atriceps Rockhopper penguin Saunders Island |
op_relation |
Publisher's version https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3272 Sí Ecosphere, 11 (2020) http://hdl.handle.net/10261/224806 doi:10.1002/ecs2.3272 |
op_rights |
open |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3272 |
container_title |
Ecosphere |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
11 |
_version_ |
1790606808174297088 |