Diet, individual specialisation and breeding of brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi): An investigation using stable isotopes
The diet of brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi) on Bird Island, South Georgia was assessed using a combination of stable isotope analysis (SIA) and mixing model techniques. We found evidence that individual specialisation in diet of adult brown skuas was related to timing of breeding, whic...
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:5056 2024-06-09T07:40:22+00:00 Diet, individual specialisation and breeding of brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi): An investigation using stable isotopes Anderson, O.R.J. Phillips, R.A. Shore, R.F. McGill, R.A.R. McDonald, R.A. Bearhop, S. 2009-01 http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/5056/ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-008-0498-9 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0498-9 unknown Springer Anderson, O.R.J.; Phillips, R.A.; Shore, R.F.; McGill, R.A.R.; McDonald, R.A.; Bearhop, S. 2009 Diet, individual specialisation and breeding of brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi): An investigation using stable isotopes. Polar Biology, 32 (1). 27-33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0498-9 <https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0498-9> Marine Sciences Zoology Ecology and Environment Publication - Article PeerReviewed 2009 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0498-9 2024-05-15T08:49:44Z The diet of brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi) on Bird Island, South Georgia was assessed using a combination of stable isotope analysis (SIA) and mixing model techniques. We found evidence that individual specialisation in diet of adult brown skuas was related to timing of breeding, which may reflect differences in intrinsic quality. Adults with more enriched 13C values hatched chicks earlier than those with depleted 13C values. Individuals with enriched 13C fed predominantly on Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) carrion and placenta while those with lower ratios appeared to rely more on burrowing petrels (e.g. Antarctic prions Pachyptila desolata). Individual foraging differences clearly influenced timing of breeding and potentially the reproductive output of breeding pairs. We confirmed that the main components of the diet of brown skuas during incubation are, in decreasing order of importance, Antarctic fur seal placenta, burrowing petrels and fur seal muscle. In addition, we identified fur seal faeces in the diet during this stage, which had not been detected previously by traditional sampling methods. Finally we identified a correlation in δ13C values between pair members, attributable to the influence of courtship feeding of females by males, or assortative mating according to foraging preference or intrinsic quality. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Fur Seal Antarctica Arctocephalus gazella Bird Island Pachyptila desolata Polar Biology Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Antarctic Bird Island ENVELOPE(-38.060,-38.060,-54.004,-54.004) Polar Biology 32 1 27 33 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftnerc |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Marine Sciences Zoology Ecology and Environment |
spellingShingle |
Marine Sciences Zoology Ecology and Environment Anderson, O.R.J. Phillips, R.A. Shore, R.F. McGill, R.A.R. McDonald, R.A. Bearhop, S. Diet, individual specialisation and breeding of brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi): An investigation using stable isotopes |
topic_facet |
Marine Sciences Zoology Ecology and Environment |
description |
The diet of brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi) on Bird Island, South Georgia was assessed using a combination of stable isotope analysis (SIA) and mixing model techniques. We found evidence that individual specialisation in diet of adult brown skuas was related to timing of breeding, which may reflect differences in intrinsic quality. Adults with more enriched 13C values hatched chicks earlier than those with depleted 13C values. Individuals with enriched 13C fed predominantly on Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) carrion and placenta while those with lower ratios appeared to rely more on burrowing petrels (e.g. Antarctic prions Pachyptila desolata). Individual foraging differences clearly influenced timing of breeding and potentially the reproductive output of breeding pairs. We confirmed that the main components of the diet of brown skuas during incubation are, in decreasing order of importance, Antarctic fur seal placenta, burrowing petrels and fur seal muscle. In addition, we identified fur seal faeces in the diet during this stage, which had not been detected previously by traditional sampling methods. Finally we identified a correlation in δ13C values between pair members, attributable to the influence of courtship feeding of females by males, or assortative mating according to foraging preference or intrinsic quality. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Anderson, O.R.J. Phillips, R.A. Shore, R.F. McGill, R.A.R. McDonald, R.A. Bearhop, S. |
author_facet |
Anderson, O.R.J. Phillips, R.A. Shore, R.F. McGill, R.A.R. McDonald, R.A. Bearhop, S. |
author_sort |
Anderson, O.R.J. |
title |
Diet, individual specialisation and breeding of brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi): An investigation using stable isotopes |
title_short |
Diet, individual specialisation and breeding of brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi): An investigation using stable isotopes |
title_full |
Diet, individual specialisation and breeding of brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi): An investigation using stable isotopes |
title_fullStr |
Diet, individual specialisation and breeding of brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi): An investigation using stable isotopes |
title_full_unstemmed |
Diet, individual specialisation and breeding of brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi): An investigation using stable isotopes |
title_sort |
diet, individual specialisation and breeding of brown skuas (catharacta antarctica lonnbergi): an investigation using stable isotopes |
publisher |
Springer |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/5056/ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-008-0498-9 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0498-9 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-38.060,-38.060,-54.004,-54.004) |
geographic |
Antarctic Bird Island |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Bird Island |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Fur Seal Antarctica Arctocephalus gazella Bird Island Pachyptila desolata Polar Biology |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Fur Seal Antarctica Arctocephalus gazella Bird Island Pachyptila desolata Polar Biology |
op_relation |
Anderson, O.R.J.; Phillips, R.A.; Shore, R.F.; McGill, R.A.R.; McDonald, R.A.; Bearhop, S. 2009 Diet, individual specialisation and breeding of brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi): An investigation using stable isotopes. Polar Biology, 32 (1). 27-33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0498-9 <https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0498-9> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0498-9 |
container_title |
Polar Biology |
container_volume |
32 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
27 |
op_container_end_page |
33 |
_version_ |
1801383786001203200 |