Sex differences in foraging ecology of a zooplanktivorous little auk Alle alle during the pre-laying period: insights from remote sensing and animal-tracking ...

• Main Authors: Jakubas, Dariusz, Wojczulanis-Jakubas, Katarzyna, Iliszko, Lech Marek
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: figshare 2024
• Subjects: Ecology; FOS: Biological sciences; Alle alle; little auk
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.7187871.v1; https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Sex_differences_in_foraging_ecology_of_a_zooplanktivorous_little_auk_Alle_alle_during_the_pre-laying_period_insights_from_remote_sensing_and_animal-tracking/7187871/1

Abstract Background Energy and time allocation in seabirds differ between consecutive stages of breeding given various requirements of particular phases of the reproductive period. Theses allocations may also be sex-specific considering differential energetic or nutritional requirements of males and females and/or sexual segregation in foraging niches and/or areas. In this study we investigated the foraging ecology of an Arctic, zooplanktivorous seabird, the little auk Alle alle during the pre-laying period using remote sensing of the environment and GPS-TDR loggers deployed on birds. We compared foraging trips range and habitats of birds with other stages of the breeding period and between sexes. Results We found that little auks during the pre-laying period foraged exclusively in cold sea surface temperature zones (with temperatures < 5 ºC) but in various sea depth zones. They dived to similar depths ranging from -4.0 to -10.9 m, exploring various thermal microhabitats (with mean temperatures values ...