Changes in the timing of egg-laying of a colonial seabird in relation to population size and environmental conditions

Votier, Stephen C.; Hatchwell, Ben J.; Mears, Meghann; Birkhead, Tim R.

doi:10.3354/meps08258

Cited by 30 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Concurrently, hatching was progressively delayed at both colonies, in contrast to many other studies documenting that earlier breeding is a common response of seabirds to a warming climate (e.g. Moe et al 2009, Reed et al 2009, Votier et al 2009, Watanuki et al 2009). Delayed breeding parallel to increasing temperatures has, however, also been demonstrated for some seabird populations in both the northern (Frederiksen et al 2004, Moe et al 2009, Shultz et al 2009) and southern hemisphere (e.g.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 42%

Forage fish abundance is a predictor of timing of breeding and hatching brood size in a coastal seabird

Lorentsen¹,

Anker‐Nilssen²,

Erikstad³

et al. 2015

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Current and future climate alterations might impact ecological processes like timing of breeding. We used multivariate linear models to assess the importance of food availability and climate on timing of breeding and hatching brood size of European shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis in 2 colonies, Sklinna (65° N) and Røst (67° N), in the Norwegian Sea over 21 yr (1989 to 2009). Predictor variables were ICES abundance estimates of young saithe Pollachius virens, the staple food of shags in these colonies, the previous winter's North Atlantic Oscillation index (wNAO), and sea surface and air temperatures. Annual population size was included to control for density-dependent effects. The best model for hatching date explained 15% (Sklinna) and 70% (Røst) of the variation and showed that shags bred earlier when 1 yr old saithe were more abundant. The model for Røst also included 2 yr old saithe and wNAO. The best model for hatching brood size explained 40% (Sklinna) and 48% (Røst) and included a positive effect of population size at both sites. The model for Røst also included a positive effect of 1 yr old saithe. Our study demonstrates that abundance of 1 yr old saithe is a key factor for the breeding performance of shags in both colonies, whereas the climate variables were of less importance. Delayed breeding and low brood size were not associated with a high population of breeders, indicating breeding performance was density-independent and that the positive relationship between breeding numbers and saithe abundance mainly reflected variation in non-breeding among established breeders.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 42%

Forage fish abundance is a predictor of timing of breeding and hatching brood size in a coastal seabird

Lorentsen¹,

Anker‐Nilssen²,

Erikstad³

et al. 2015

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…Directional changes in breeding time may alter other aspects of life history (Jonze´n et al 2007, Votier et al 2009). In highly social species such as those breeding in colonies, advancing arrival and earlier breeding can lead to changes in the temporal distribution of group sizes or compositions and to changes in parasite load.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The nest ectoparasites commonly associated with colonial birds (Moss and Camin 1970, Duffy 1983, Brown and Brown 1986, Cote and Poulin 1995 may also change their phenology to become active earlier or increase more rapidly (Cumming andVan Vuuren 2006, Brooks andHoberg 2007), which may fundamentally alter one 3 E-mail: charles-brown@utulsa.edu of the universal costs of group-living (Brown and Brown 2001) and lead to further evolution of breeding time in response to the parasites (Brown and Brown 1996). To date, almost no studies have investigated the potential links between climate-mediated changes in breeding time and group size or nesting density (Reed et al 2006, Votier et al 2009). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breeding time in a migratory songbird is predicted by drought severity and group size

Brown

2014

Ecology

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Abstract. Global climate change is altering the breeding phenology of many organisms, and one reported consequence of warmer average temperatures is earlier breeding times in migratory songbirds of north temperate latitudes. Less studied are the potential interactions between earlier breeding and social behavior in colonial species. We investigated how breeding time, as measured by colony initiation dates across the entire summer, in Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) of southwestern Nebraska, USA, changed over a 30-year period and could be predicted by climatic variables, year, and colony size. Mean colony initiation date became earlier over the study, with variation best predicted by the extent of drought severity on the breeding grounds: colonies initiated earlier in warmer and drier years. Colony initiation dates were more asynchronous across the population in cooler and wetter years. There was no effect of climatic conditions during the nonbreeding season. Larger colonies started earlier in the year than smaller ones, probably because of the cost of ectoparasitism and the benefit of social foraging, both of which varied with colony size, date, and climatic conditions. The inverse relationship between breeding time and colony size was more pronounced in years with more severe drought. This study is one of the few to show that breeding phenology of a long-distance migrant bird is sensitive primarily to drought severity on the breeding grounds and that climate change can influence social behavior. If climate change exacerbates drought in the future, Cliff Swallow breeding time will likely become more strongly linked to group size.

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“…In normal flow years (2007,2009) There is a demonstrated link between prey availability and reproductive output in seabirds (Hall and Kress 2004;Votier et al 2009;Satterthwaite et al 2012). Fledging success is affected both directly and indirectly by poor foraging conditions; food availability can directly affect adult and chick survival, and low prey availability can lead to longer distance adult foraging trips, longer foraging trip duration, lower adult nest attendance, and, ultimately, higher nest abandonment rates (Anderson et al 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Top-Down and Bottom-Up Interactions Influence Fledging Success at North America’s Largest Colony of Caspian Terns (Hydroprogne caspia)

Collar

Roby

Lyons

2017

Estuaries and Coasts

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Our study investigated the influence of bottom-up and top-down drivers on the declining fledging success at a once thriving breeding colony of Caspian terns (Hydroprogne caspia). Situated at the mouth of the Columbia River, OR, East Sand Island (ESI) is home to the largest Caspian tern breeding colony in North America. Since 2001, the decline in fledging success of Caspian terns at ESI has been associated with a significant increase in average river discharge during May and June. During the years 2001-2011, the abundance of forage fish available to terns in the estuary was inversely related to river discharge. This relationship also apparently affected the reliance of nest predators on the tern colony as a food source, resulting in increased disturbance and decreased fledging success at the tern colony in years of higher river discharge. There was a significant longitudinal increase in disturbance rates by bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) during June for terns nesting at the ESI colony, and eagle disturbance rates were positively associated with May river discharge. We also found a significant increase in kleptoparasitism rates of terns by hybrid glaucous-winged/ western gulls (Larus glaucescens x Larus occidentalis) since 2001, and Caspian tern fledging success at ESI decreased with increasing average annual rates of gull kleptoparasitism. Our results support the hypothesis that the decline in Caspian tern fledging success at this large estuarine colony was primarily driven by the interaction of bottom-up and top-down factors, influencing tern fledging success through the food supply and triggering potential predators to identify the tern breeding colony as an alternative source of prey.

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Changes in the timing of egg-laying of a colonial seabird in relation to population size and environmental conditions

Cited by 30 publications

References 38 publications

Forage fish abundance is a predictor of timing of breeding and hatching brood size in a coastal seabird

Forage fish abundance is a predictor of timing of breeding and hatching brood size in a coastal seabird

Breeding time in a migratory songbird is predicted by drought severity and group size

Top-Down and Bottom-Up Interactions Influence Fledging Success at North America’s Largest Colony of Caspian Terns (Hydroprogne caspia)

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