Are prey remains accurate indicators of chick diet? A comparison of diet quantification techniques for Black Oystercatchers

Robinson, Bret; Coletti, Heather A.; Phillips, Laura M.; Powell, Abby N.

doi:10.18194/ws.00105

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Throughout much of the eastern Pacific, birds including surfbirds ( Aphriza virgata ), gulls ( Larus glaucescens , L. occidentalis ), sea ducks such as Barrow's goldeneye ( Bucephala islandica ), and black oystercatchers ( Haematopus bachmani ) can derive a significant portion of their diet from mussels and affect mussel persistence (Marsh, 1986; Miller & Dowd, 2019; Robinson et al, 2018). Black oystercatchers also feed mussels to their chicks (O'Clair & O'Clair, 1998; Robinson et al, 2018) making mussels an important resource across black oystercatcher life stages. Sea ducks such as Barrow's goldeneyes consume primarily mussels and spend much of the winter near mussel beds (Esler et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The small and cryptic sea stars, Leptasterias spp., can occur at high densities within mussel beds and can be abundant in Alaska (Chenelot et al, 2006;Paine, 1976) and consume smallersized prey, including mussels, than P. ochraceus (Menge, 1972). and affect mussel persistence (Marsh, 1986;Miller & Dowd, 2019;Robinson et al, 2018). Black oystercatchers also feed mussels to Sea ducks such as Barrow's goldeneyes consume primarily mussels and spend much of the winter near mussel beds (Esler et al, 2019).…”

Section: Predation Effects On Musselsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evidence of increased mussel abundance related to the Pacific marine heatwave and sea star wasting

et al. 2022

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Mussels occupy a key middle trophic position in nearshore food webs linking primary producers to predators. Climate-related environmental changes may synergistically combine with changes in predator abundance to affect intertidal ecosystems. We examined the influence of two major events on mussel (Mytilus trossulus) abundance in the northern Gulf of Alaska: the recent Pacific marine heatwave (PMH, 2014(PMH, -2016 and an outbreak of sea star wasting (SSW). We investigated how mussel abundance changed since the onset of SSW and whether the density of predatory sea stars or PMH-related temperature metrics explain variation in mussel abundance. Sea stars and mussels were surveyed since 2005 approximately annually in four regions of the northern Gulf of Alaska: Katmai (KATM), Kachemak Bay (KBAY), Kenai Fjords (KEFJ) and western Prince William Sound (WPWS). Mussel percent cover in the mid-intertidal increased 1-3 years after declines in sea stars at all regions and in the low-intertidal at KATM, KBAY, and KEFJ, but not at WPWS. After the onset of SSW, large (≥20 mm length) mussel density and mussel bed width increased at KATM but not the other regions. Total mussel densities, including recruits, did not differ before and after the onset of SSW. The total number of sea stars significantly explained variation in mussel metrics, but the proportions of the three sea star species examined did not. We did not find strong evidence for direct effects of temperature on mussels. The effects of the PMH and the SSW outbreak appear to have combined, with increased temperatures indirectly benefiting mussels in concert with relaxed top-down pressure from sea stars, allowing for increased mussel abundance. Changing mussel abundance may affect intertidal local productivity and the abundance or performance of other nearshore consumers of mussels.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Predation Effects On Musselsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of increased mussel abundance related to the Pacific marine heatwave and sea star wasting

et al. 2022

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“…This study is not exempt from limitations associated with previous research analyzing prey remains (Redpath et al, 2001;Robinson et al, 2018). Indirect collection of prey remains from raptors may be biased toward larger and brightly colored feathers.…”

Section: Study Biasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diet of breeding Eleonora's falconFalco eleonoraein Algeria: Insights for the autumn trans‐Mediterranean avian migration

Samraoui

Kayser

Touati

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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How environmental changes are affecting bird population dynamics is one of the most challenging conservation issues. Dietary studies of top avian predators could offer scope to monitor anthropogenic drivers of ecosystem changes. We investigated the diet of breeding Eleonora's falcon in an area of Northeastern Algeria in the years 2010–2012. Feathers and insect remains originating from prey plucking behavior were analyzed, providing insights into the seasonally changing diet of this raptor, as well as the trans‐Mediterranean avian migration. A total of 77 species of birds (16 Sylviidae, 11 Turdidae, and 4 Emberizidae), 3 species of insects, and 1 lizard were identified among prey remains, reflecting a diverse diet. Diet composition and prey abundance varied seasonally, faithfully correlating with the passage of migrant birds as recorded from bird ring recoveries. Our findings suggest that dietary studies of predators might be deployed to investigate changes in bird migration. We discuss our results in the context of trans‐Mediterranean migration, with early‐season prey mainly comprising trans‐Saharan migrants (Apus apus and Merops apiaster) and late‐season prey being dominated by Mediterranean winter migrants (Erithacus rubecula, Turdus philomelos, Sylvia atricapilla, and Sturnus vulgaris). Notably, we observed a significant reduction in species richness of passerine remains in 2012, potentially highlighting a decline in the diversity of avian migrants.

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Lack of strong responses to the Pacific marine heatwave by benthivorous marine birds indicates importance of trophic drivers

Robinson,

Coletti,

Ballachey

et al. 2024

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The Pacific marine heatwave (PMH) of 2014-2016 was an intense, long-lasting environmental disturbance expressed throughout the north Pacific. While dramatic consequences of the PMH on pelagic food webs have been well documented, effects on nearshore food webs, i.e. those based on macroalgal primary productivity, benthic invertebrate intermediate consumers, and specialized benthivorous top predators including some marine birds, are not well understood. We conducted summer and winter coastline marine bird surveys in 2 National Parks in the northern Gulf of Alaska from 2006 to 2022. We evaluated changes in abundance of benthivorous marine birds in relation to the PMH, after accounting for effects of season and region. We also evaluated changes in abundance of nearshore benthic invertebrate prey to allow specific consideration of a prey-based mechanism for effects of the PMH across food webs. We found that benthivorous marine birds, consisting of sea ducks and shorebirds, did not show a strong response to the PMH, unlike significant effects demonstrated by piscivorous birds in pelagic biomes. In contrast to extreme reductions in quantity and quality of forage fish documented elsewhere, we found that common benthic invertebrate prey abundance remained relatively stable. Our results support the hypothesis that, across food webs, top predator responses to the PMH were driven primarily by how and whether the PMH affected their prey availability. These findings show how a large-scale environmental perturbation affects biological communities differently through various trophic pathways, which provides insight into ecosystem resiliency and can inform management strategies in the face of persistent climate change.

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Are prey remains accurate indicators of chick diet? A comparison of diet quantification techniques for Black Oystercatchers

Cited by 3 publications

References 29 publications

Evidence of increased mussel abundance related to the Pacific marine heatwave and sea star wasting

Evidence of increased mussel abundance related to the Pacific marine heatwave and sea star wasting

Diet of breeding Eleonora's falconFalco eleonoraein Algeria: Insights for the autumn trans‐Mediterranean avian migration

Lack of strong responses to the Pacific marine heatwave by benthivorous marine birds indicates importance of trophic drivers

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