Activity of predators in seabird colonies decreases during the darkest compared to the brightest phase of the diel cycle below, but not above, the Arctic Circle
Predator activity can structure communities temporally and influence the spatial distribution of prey. Yet, despite the influence this may have on prey species’ activity or geographic persistence, our understanding of whether diel predator activity changes geographically remains limited. Here, we co...
Published in: | Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research |
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2024.2367262 https://doaj.org/article/06743a0b064c480995e5f3c561809ace |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:06743a0b064c480995e5f3c561809ace 2024-09-15T17:49:02+00:00 Activity of predators in seabird colonies decreases during the darkest compared to the brightest phase of the diel cycle below, but not above, the Arctic Circle Nicholas P. Huffeldt Floris M. van Beest Haley L. Kenyon Jóhannis Danielsen Tim Guilford 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2024.2367262 https://doaj.org/article/06743a0b064c480995e5f3c561809ace EN eng Taylor & Francis Group https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15230430.2024.2367262 https://doaj.org/toc/1523-0430 https://doaj.org/toc/1938-4246 doi:10.1080/15230430.2024.2367262 1938-4246 1523-0430 https://doaj.org/article/06743a0b064c480995e5f3c561809ace Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, Vol 56, Iss 1 (2024) Chronoecology diel activity light–dark cycle photoperiod constraint hypothesis polar latitude predator activity Environmental sciences GE1-350 Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2024 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2024.2367262 2024-08-05T17:48:52Z Predator activity can structure communities temporally and influence the spatial distribution of prey. Yet, despite the influence this may have on prey species’ activity or geographic persistence, our understanding of whether diel predator activity changes geographically remains limited. Here, we conduct a case study to test whether predator activity during the darkest phase of the diel cycle increases with the duration of daylight (i.e. photoperiod) at high latitudes during summer, aligning with the photoperiod constraint hypothesis. Using both observations and experiments at one seabird colony above and one below the northern polar (Arctic) circle, we compared predator activity between the brightest and darkest phases of the diel cycle. Avian predator counts were greater and nest predation events were more common during the brightest phase of the diel cycle below the Arctic Circle (i.e. where the sun goes below the horizon) but similar across phases during polar summer (i.e. above the Arctic Circle when the sun does not set). Our results highlight the potential influence of light on activity of predator communities and suggest a possible latitudinal limit to the advantage gained by dark-active strategies for avoidance of visually hunting predators. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarctic and Alpine Research Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 56 1 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Chronoecology diel activity light–dark cycle photoperiod constraint hypothesis polar latitude predator activity Environmental sciences GE1-350 Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
Chronoecology diel activity light–dark cycle photoperiod constraint hypothesis polar latitude predator activity Environmental sciences GE1-350 Ecology QH540-549.5 Nicholas P. Huffeldt Floris M. van Beest Haley L. Kenyon Jóhannis Danielsen Tim Guilford Activity of predators in seabird colonies decreases during the darkest compared to the brightest phase of the diel cycle below, but not above, the Arctic Circle |
topic_facet |
Chronoecology diel activity light–dark cycle photoperiod constraint hypothesis polar latitude predator activity Environmental sciences GE1-350 Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Predator activity can structure communities temporally and influence the spatial distribution of prey. Yet, despite the influence this may have on prey species’ activity or geographic persistence, our understanding of whether diel predator activity changes geographically remains limited. Here, we conduct a case study to test whether predator activity during the darkest phase of the diel cycle increases with the duration of daylight (i.e. photoperiod) at high latitudes during summer, aligning with the photoperiod constraint hypothesis. Using both observations and experiments at one seabird colony above and one below the northern polar (Arctic) circle, we compared predator activity between the brightest and darkest phases of the diel cycle. Avian predator counts were greater and nest predation events were more common during the brightest phase of the diel cycle below the Arctic Circle (i.e. where the sun goes below the horizon) but similar across phases during polar summer (i.e. above the Arctic Circle when the sun does not set). Our results highlight the potential influence of light on activity of predator communities and suggest a possible latitudinal limit to the advantage gained by dark-active strategies for avoidance of visually hunting predators. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Nicholas P. Huffeldt Floris M. van Beest Haley L. Kenyon Jóhannis Danielsen Tim Guilford |
author_facet |
Nicholas P. Huffeldt Floris M. van Beest Haley L. Kenyon Jóhannis Danielsen Tim Guilford |
author_sort |
Nicholas P. Huffeldt |
title |
Activity of predators in seabird colonies decreases during the darkest compared to the brightest phase of the diel cycle below, but not above, the Arctic Circle |
title_short |
Activity of predators in seabird colonies decreases during the darkest compared to the brightest phase of the diel cycle below, but not above, the Arctic Circle |
title_full |
Activity of predators in seabird colonies decreases during the darkest compared to the brightest phase of the diel cycle below, but not above, the Arctic Circle |
title_fullStr |
Activity of predators in seabird colonies decreases during the darkest compared to the brightest phase of the diel cycle below, but not above, the Arctic Circle |
title_full_unstemmed |
Activity of predators in seabird colonies decreases during the darkest compared to the brightest phase of the diel cycle below, but not above, the Arctic Circle |
title_sort |
activity of predators in seabird colonies decreases during the darkest compared to the brightest phase of the diel cycle below, but not above, the arctic circle |
publisher |
Taylor & Francis Group |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2024.2367262 https://doaj.org/article/06743a0b064c480995e5f3c561809ace |
genre |
Antarctic and Alpine Research Arctic |
genre_facet |
Antarctic and Alpine Research Arctic |
op_source |
Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, Vol 56, Iss 1 (2024) |
op_relation |
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15230430.2024.2367262 https://doaj.org/toc/1523-0430 https://doaj.org/toc/1938-4246 doi:10.1080/15230430.2024.2367262 1938-4246 1523-0430 https://doaj.org/article/06743a0b064c480995e5f3c561809ace |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2024.2367262 |
container_title |
Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research |
container_volume |
56 |
container_issue |
1 |
_version_ |
1810290745008979968 |