Inter- and intra-year variation in foraging areas of breeding kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla)

• Published in: Marine Biology
• Main Authors: Robertson, G. S., Bolton, M., Grecian, W. J., Monaghan, P.
• Other Authors: University of St Andrews. Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews. Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews. School of Biology
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: QH301 Biology; Aquatic Science; Ecology; Evolution; Behavior and Systematics; SDG 14 - Life Below Water; QH301; rissa tridactyla
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10023/10775; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-014-2477-8

This work was supported by the National Environment Research Council (award number NE/I528369/1) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds through a CASE studentship to the University of Glasgow. While seabird conservation efforts have largely focused on protection from threats at the colony (e.g. reducing disturbance and predation), attention is increasingly being given to implementing protection measures for foraging areas at sea. For this to be effective, important foraging areas must be identified. Although numerous studies have examined seabird foraging behaviour, information is still lacking on the variability in area utilisation within and among breeding seasons. GPS devices were attached to adult black-legged kittiwakes breeding at an expanding North Sea colony (55°20′N, 1°32′W) during both incubation and chick-rearing in 2012 and during chick-rearing in 2011, to determine whether foraging areas remained consistent and to identify the oceanographic characteristics of areas used for foraging. The type and size of prey items consumed at different stages of the breeding cycle was also examined. During incubation (April-May 2012), kittiwakes foraged substantially further from the colony and fed on larger sandeels than when feeding chicks, and there was significant inter-annual variation in foraging areas used during the chick-rearing period (June-July 2011 and 2012). Foraging areas were characterised by cooler sea surface temperatures and areas of high chlorophyll a concentration, although association with specific oceanographic features changed within the breeding season and between years. These results emphasise the importance of considering how foraging areas and reliance on specific oceanographic conditions change over time when seeking to identify important marine areas for seabirds. Publisher PDF Peer reviewed