Diet and feeding ecology of Cory's shearwaterCalonectris diomedea in the Azores, north-east Atlantic Jose P. G r a n a d e i r o l r 2 , * , Luis R. ~o n t e i r o~, Robert W. Furness2'Instituto da Conservaqao da Natureza, Rua Filipe Folque. 46.3", P-1050 Lisboa, Portugal 'Ornithology Group, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow.Glasgow G12 8 0 0 , United Kingdom "epartamento de Oceanografia e Pescas, Universidade dos Aqores, P-9900 Horta, Portugal ABSTRACT: Cory's shearwater Calonectris diomedea is the most abundant pelagic seabird in the Azores archipelago. We examined their diet in March and August. Fish were present in more than 90% of the samples analysed, but only included 5 species. Two small pelagic species, boarfish Capros aper and trumpet fish .\4acrorharnphosus sp., were the most common prey, accounting for more than 85 % of the food items consumed in March and August. Due to their small size (

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Background The accuracy of predictions of invasive species ranges is dependent on niche similarity between invasive and native populations and on our ability to identify the niche characteristics. With this work we aimed to compare the niche dynamics of two genetically related invasive populations of Vespa velutina (an effective predator of honeybees and wild pollinators), in two distinct climatic regions, one in central Europe and another one in the north-western Iberian Peninsula, and hence to identify uninvaded regions susceptible to invasion. Methods Niche dynamics and shifts of V. velutina were assessed by comparing the environmental niches of the native and of the two invasive populations, using climatic, topographic and land use variables. We also ran reciprocal distribution models using different algorithms and records from both native and invasive ranges to compare model predictions and estimate which regions are at a greater risk of being invaded. Results An apparent niche shift was detected in the population of the NW of Iberian Peninsula, where the species is living under environmental conditions different from the native niche. In central Europe, large suitable areas remain unoccupied. The fact that both invasive populations are well established, despite occupying environmentally distinct regions indicates that V. velutina has a high ability to successfully invade different environmental envelopes from those existing in its native range. For example, in north-western Iberian Peninsula the species is now thriving out of its native niche limits. Moreover, the large extent of still unoccupied environmental space with similar conditions to those used by the species in its native range suggests that there is still a large area of central and eastern Europe that can be potentially invaded by the species.

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