Commensal Foraging Between Double-crested Cormorants and a Southern Stingray

Kajiura, Stephen M.; Macesic, Laura J.; Meredith, Tricia L.; Cocks, Kelly L.; Dirk, Lynda J.

doi:10.1676/08-122.1

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Foraging facilitation is a commensal relationship whereby ray activity enhances another species' ability to access food items (Boaden & Kingsford, 2012). Rays have been documented facilitating foraging for birds (Kajiura, Macesic, Meredith, Cocks, & Dirk, 2009) Bornatowski, 2017). In La Jolla, California, speckled sanddabs (Citharichthys stigmaeus, Paralichthyidae) near pits dug by researchers along transects had a higher frequency of occurrence of several prey species in their stomach contents when compared with sanddab stomach contents in areas lacking disturbance (VanBlaricom, 1982).…”

Section: Facilitation and Other Symbiotic Relationshipsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Foraging facilitation is a commensal relationship whereby ray activity enhances another species’ ability to access food items (Boaden & Kingsford, 2012). Rays have been documented facilitating foraging for birds (Kajiura, Macesic, Meredith, Cocks, & Dirk, 2009) and numerous teleost taxa (breams [Nemipteridae; Boaden & Kingsford, 2012], characids [Characidae & Hemiodontidae; Neto & Carvalho, 2011], cobia [Rachycentridae; Smith & Merriner, 1982], flounders [Paralichthyidae; VanBlaricom, 1982], grunts [Hamulidae; Strand, 1988], jacks [Carangidae; Kiszka, Heithaus, & Quod, 2015], porcupinefish [Diodontidae; Strand, 1988], porgies [Sparidae; Strand, 1988] and wrasses [Labridae; Strand, 1988]). These interactions typically occur when rays search for prey, disturbing organisms that get released into the surrounding environment to become available for other predators.…”

Section: Current Understanding Of Ray Effects On Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Buried in the sand: Uncovering the ecological roles and importance of rays

2020

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Section: Facilitation and Other Symbiotic Relationshipsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Current Understanding Of Ray Effects On Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Buried in the sand: Uncovering the ecological roles and importance of rays

2020

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“…Kiszka et al (2015) de tected the association of southern stingrays Hypanus americanus and bar jacks Caranx ruber, where stingray bioturbation allowed C. ruber to access re sources otherwise unavailable. Similarly, Kajiura et al (2009) observed doublecrested cormo rants Pha la crocorax auritus floridanus taking advantage of H. americanus bioturbation to feed on tele osts. Thus, batoid bioturbation may fulfil a number of roles in soft sediment habitats within and beyond nursery grounds.…”

Section: Bioturbationmentioning

confidence: 86%

Batoid nurseries: definition, use and importance

Martins¹,

Heupel²,

Chin³

et al. 2018

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Nursery areas are crucial for many elasmobranch species, providing benefits that increase fitness and survival. Shark nurseries are well studied and our knowledge of their function and importance has expanded over the past few decades. However, little attention has been given to batoid nurseries, with studies covering less than 6% of the 663 currently described species. Threats of extinction faced by batoids reinforce the importance of defining these critical habitats. This review synthesises current knowledge of batoid nursery areas to provide a better understanding of their ecological roles and importance. Historically, different criteria have been used to define viviparous and oviparous batoid nurseries, causing confusion that could lead to failure of conservation and management strategies by under-or overestimating the importance of areas and delaying effective action. We suggest the criteria used to identify shark nurseries be applied to juvenile batoids, standardizing this nursery definition for all elasmobranchs, but we also advocate for a second set of criteria that identifies egg case nurseries. Batoids are thought to play 3 main ecological roles in nursery areas: energetic links, bioturbators and mesopredators. Biotic and abiotic features affect abundance and distribution of batoids within nurseries and likely play a key role in their habitat use. However, analysis of batoid ecological roles in nursery areas is limited by the lack of research on their early life history stages. Thus, identification of areas that support sensitive life stages and an improved understanding of early life history are crucial for the efficient management and conservation of batoid species and their nurseries.

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“…Although little work has been done with elasmobranch bioturbation, gray whale Eschrichtius robustus feedings pits are often swarmed by large scavenging amphipods shortly after excavation (Oliver and Slattery, 1985), and several species of marine birds also take advantage of prey items uncovered and suspended by gray whales (Harrison, 1979;Grebmeier and Harrison, 1992;Anderson and Lovvorn, 2008). In addition, double-crested cormorants Phalacrocorax auritus have been observed following southern stingray and capturing fish disturbed by the ray's foraging (Kajiura et al, 2009). Several fish species including remoras, jacks, and cobia Rachycentron canadum are known to associate with benthic elasmobranchs and consume ejected prey (Smith and Merriner, 1982).…”

Section: Elasmobranchs As Facilitators Of Trophic Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%