Sex differences in foraging ecology of a zooplanktivorous little auk Alle alle during the pre-laying period: insights from remote sensing and animal-tracking
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...
Published in: | Frontiers in Zoology |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
BMC
2024
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-024-00534-2 https://doaj.org/article/dcc4af63c691499da8ac0ee6aea94347 |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:dcc4af63c691499da8ac0ee6aea94347 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:dcc4af63c691499da8ac0ee6aea94347 2024-09-15T17:36:51+00:00 Sex differences in foraging ecology of a zooplanktivorous little auk Alle alle during the pre-laying period: insights from remote sensing and animal-tracking Dariusz Jakubas Katarzyna Wojczulanis-Jakubas Lech Marek Iliszko 2024-04-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-024-00534-2 https://doaj.org/article/dcc4af63c691499da8ac0ee6aea94347 EN eng BMC https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-024-00534-2 https://doaj.org/toc/1742-9994 doi:10.1186/s12983-024-00534-2 1742-9994 https://doaj.org/article/dcc4af63c691499da8ac0ee6aea94347 Frontiers in Zoology, Vol 21, Iss 1, Pp 1-20 (2024) Dive characteristics Dovekie Foraging ecology Pre-incubation period Zoology QL1-991 article 2024 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-024-00534-2 2024-08-05T17:49:33Z 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 ranging from 2.2 °C in Shelf sea depth zone to 5.9 °C in Deep sea depth zone). The majority of foraging trips and dives characteristics were similar to subsequent phases of breeding. However, home ranges during the pre-laying trips were wider compared to the incubation period. As expected, females exhibited wider foraging niches compared to males (wider range of sea surface temperature and sea depth in foraging locations), which could be explained by sex specific energetic and/or nutritional requirements (females producing an egg). We also delineated local foraging areas important for little auks during their whole breeding season. Protection of these areas is crucial for sustaining the local marine biodiversity. Conclusions We found that little auks females during the pre-laying period explored wider foraging niches compared to males. These differences may be attributed to sex-specific nutritional or/and energetical constraints at this stage of breeding. The results of this study also emphasize the importance ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Alle alle Dovekie little auk Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Frontiers in Zoology 21 1 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Dive characteristics Dovekie Foraging ecology Pre-incubation period Zoology QL1-991 |
spellingShingle |
Dive characteristics Dovekie Foraging ecology Pre-incubation period Zoology QL1-991 Dariusz Jakubas Katarzyna Wojczulanis-Jakubas Lech Marek Iliszko Sex differences in foraging ecology of a zooplanktivorous little auk Alle alle during the pre-laying period: insights from remote sensing and animal-tracking |
topic_facet |
Dive characteristics Dovekie Foraging ecology Pre-incubation period Zoology QL1-991 |
description |
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 ranging from 2.2 °C in Shelf sea depth zone to 5.9 °C in Deep sea depth zone). The majority of foraging trips and dives characteristics were similar to subsequent phases of breeding. However, home ranges during the pre-laying trips were wider compared to the incubation period. As expected, females exhibited wider foraging niches compared to males (wider range of sea surface temperature and sea depth in foraging locations), which could be explained by sex specific energetic and/or nutritional requirements (females producing an egg). We also delineated local foraging areas important for little auks during their whole breeding season. Protection of these areas is crucial for sustaining the local marine biodiversity. Conclusions We found that little auks females during the pre-laying period explored wider foraging niches compared to males. These differences may be attributed to sex-specific nutritional or/and energetical constraints at this stage of breeding. The results of this study also emphasize the importance ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Dariusz Jakubas Katarzyna Wojczulanis-Jakubas Lech Marek Iliszko |
author_facet |
Dariusz Jakubas Katarzyna Wojczulanis-Jakubas Lech Marek Iliszko |
author_sort |
Dariusz Jakubas |
title |
Sex differences in foraging ecology of a zooplanktivorous little auk Alle alle during the pre-laying period: insights from remote sensing and animal-tracking |
title_short |
Sex differences in foraging ecology of a zooplanktivorous little auk Alle alle during the pre-laying period: insights from remote sensing and animal-tracking |
title_full |
Sex differences in foraging ecology of a zooplanktivorous little auk Alle alle during the pre-laying period: insights from remote sensing and animal-tracking |
title_fullStr |
Sex differences in foraging ecology of a zooplanktivorous little auk Alle alle during the pre-laying period: insights from remote sensing and animal-tracking |
title_full_unstemmed |
Sex differences in foraging ecology of a zooplanktivorous little auk Alle alle during the pre-laying period: insights from remote sensing and animal-tracking |
title_sort |
sex differences in foraging ecology of a zooplanktivorous little auk alle alle during the pre-laying period: insights from remote sensing and animal-tracking |
publisher |
BMC |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-024-00534-2 https://doaj.org/article/dcc4af63c691499da8ac0ee6aea94347 |
genre |
Alle alle Dovekie little auk |
genre_facet |
Alle alle Dovekie little auk |
op_source |
Frontiers in Zoology, Vol 21, Iss 1, Pp 1-20 (2024) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-024-00534-2 https://doaj.org/toc/1742-9994 doi:10.1186/s12983-024-00534-2 1742-9994 https://doaj.org/article/dcc4af63c691499da8ac0ee6aea94347 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-024-00534-2 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Zoology |
container_volume |
21 |
container_issue |
1 |
_version_ |
1810492588945309696 |