Short- and long-term consistency in the foraging niche of wandering albatrosses
The wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) is regarded as a generalist predator, but can it be consistent in its foraging niche at an individual level? This study tested short- and long-term consistency in the foraging niche in terms of habitat use, trophic level and, by inference, prey selection. F...
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Online Access: | http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/18520/ http://www.springer.com/environment/aquatic+sciences/journal/227 |
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:18520 2024-02-11T10:02:34+01:00 Short- and long-term consistency in the foraging niche of wandering albatrosses Ceia, Filipe R. Phillips, Richard A. Ramos, Jaime A. Cherel, Yves Vieira, Rui P. Richard, Pierre Xavier, José C. 2012 http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/18520/ http://www.springer.com/environment/aquatic+sciences/journal/227 unknown Springer Ceia, Filipe R.; Phillips, Richard A.; Ramos, Jaime A.; Cherel, Yves; Vieira, Rui P.; Richard, Pierre; Xavier, José C. 2012 Short- and long-term consistency in the foraging niche of wandering albatrosses. Marine Biology, 159 (7). 1581-1591. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-1946-1 <https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-1946-1> Publication - Article PeerReviewed 2012 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-1946-1 2024-01-26T00:03:20Z The wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) is regarded as a generalist predator, but can it be consistent in its foraging niche at an individual level? This study tested short- and long-term consistency in the foraging niche in terms of habitat use, trophic level and, by inference, prey selection. Fieldwork was carried out at Bird Island, South Georgia, in May–October 2009, during the chick-rearing period. Blood (plasma and cells) and feathers for stable isotope analyses (δ13C and δ15N) were sampled from 35 adults on their return from a foraging trip during which they carried stomach temperature, activity and global positioning system loggers. Results suggest short-term consistency in foraging niche in relation to both oceanic water mass and trophic level, and long-term consistency in use of habitat. Consistent differences between individuals partly reflected sex-specific habitat preferences. The proportion of consistent individuals (i.e., with a narrow foraging niche) was estimated at c. 40 % for short-term habitat and trophic level (prey) preferences and 29 % for longer-term habitat preference, suggesting this is an important characteristic of this population and potentially of pelagic seabirds in general. Foraging consistency was not related to body condition or level of breeding experience; instead, it may reduce intraspecific competition. Article in Journal/Newspaper Bird Island Diomedea exulans Wandering Albatross Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Bird Island ENVELOPE(-38.060,-38.060,-54.004,-54.004) Marine Biology 159 7 1581 1591 |
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Open Polar |
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Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
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ftnerc |
language |
unknown |
description |
The wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) is regarded as a generalist predator, but can it be consistent in its foraging niche at an individual level? This study tested short- and long-term consistency in the foraging niche in terms of habitat use, trophic level and, by inference, prey selection. Fieldwork was carried out at Bird Island, South Georgia, in May–October 2009, during the chick-rearing period. Blood (plasma and cells) and feathers for stable isotope analyses (δ13C and δ15N) were sampled from 35 adults on their return from a foraging trip during which they carried stomach temperature, activity and global positioning system loggers. Results suggest short-term consistency in foraging niche in relation to both oceanic water mass and trophic level, and long-term consistency in use of habitat. Consistent differences between individuals partly reflected sex-specific habitat preferences. The proportion of consistent individuals (i.e., with a narrow foraging niche) was estimated at c. 40 % for short-term habitat and trophic level (prey) preferences and 29 % for longer-term habitat preference, suggesting this is an important characteristic of this population and potentially of pelagic seabirds in general. Foraging consistency was not related to body condition or level of breeding experience; instead, it may reduce intraspecific competition. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ceia, Filipe R. Phillips, Richard A. Ramos, Jaime A. Cherel, Yves Vieira, Rui P. Richard, Pierre Xavier, José C. |
spellingShingle |
Ceia, Filipe R. Phillips, Richard A. Ramos, Jaime A. Cherel, Yves Vieira, Rui P. Richard, Pierre Xavier, José C. Short- and long-term consistency in the foraging niche of wandering albatrosses |
author_facet |
Ceia, Filipe R. Phillips, Richard A. Ramos, Jaime A. Cherel, Yves Vieira, Rui P. Richard, Pierre Xavier, José C. |
author_sort |
Ceia, Filipe R. |
title |
Short- and long-term consistency in the foraging niche of wandering albatrosses |
title_short |
Short- and long-term consistency in the foraging niche of wandering albatrosses |
title_full |
Short- and long-term consistency in the foraging niche of wandering albatrosses |
title_fullStr |
Short- and long-term consistency in the foraging niche of wandering albatrosses |
title_full_unstemmed |
Short- and long-term consistency in the foraging niche of wandering albatrosses |
title_sort |
short- and long-term consistency in the foraging niche of wandering albatrosses |
publisher |
Springer |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/18520/ http://www.springer.com/environment/aquatic+sciences/journal/227 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-38.060,-38.060,-54.004,-54.004) |
geographic |
Bird Island |
geographic_facet |
Bird Island |
genre |
Bird Island Diomedea exulans Wandering Albatross |
genre_facet |
Bird Island Diomedea exulans Wandering Albatross |
op_relation |
Ceia, Filipe R.; Phillips, Richard A.; Ramos, Jaime A.; Cherel, Yves; Vieira, Rui P.; Richard, Pierre; Xavier, José C. 2012 Short- and long-term consistency in the foraging niche of wandering albatrosses. Marine Biology, 159 (7). 1581-1591. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-1946-1 <https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-1946-1> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-1946-1 |
container_title |
Marine Biology |
container_volume |
159 |
container_issue |
7 |
container_start_page |
1581 |
op_container_end_page |
1591 |
_version_ |
1790598590456922112 |