Foraging Site Preferences of Brandt's Cormorants off the Santa Cruz, California, Coast

Hebshi, Aaron J.

doi:10.2307/1521914

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Brandt's Cormorants, however, were found more often in clearer water, and less often in turbid water (<5 m Secchi depth). Previous investigators have not assessed the possible preferences of cor-morants with respect to water clarity, although Hebshi (1998) found that Brandt's Cormorants foraged most often over rocky substrates where water clarity was generally greater than over sandy substrates. Brandt's Cormorants are generalist predators, but typically feed on epibenthic fishes (Baltz and Morejohn 1977, Ainley et al 1981, Ainley and Boekelheide 1990.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Effect of water clarity on the distribution of marine birds in nearshore waters of Monterey Bay, California

Henkel

2006

J Field Ornithology

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The distribution of marine birds relative to water clarity was examined in the nearshore waters of Monterey Bay, California. I conducted nine at‐sea surveys in 1999 and 2000 and simultaneously recorded water clarity and the density of five taxa of marine birds. Among plunge‐divers, Forster's Terns (Sterna forsteri) occurred more frequently than expected over turbid water (<2.5 m Secchi depth) and, among pursuit‐diving species, Brandt's Cormorants (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) occurred most often in the clearest water available (>5 m Secchi depth). Turbidity in Monterey Bay may be caused by suspended organic matter, including phytoplankton, during summer and fall. Forster's Tern may prefer such areas because small fish are likely to occur near this potential food source. Brandt's Cormorants probably rely on vision to catch fish near the bottom and turbid water may reduce available light and limit visual acuity. The distribution of Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis), Western/Clark's Grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis/clarkii), and Marbled Murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) did not appear to be influenced by turbidity levels, indicating that some seabirds use marine habitats with a wide range of water clarities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Effect of water clarity on the distribution of marine birds in nearshore waters of Monterey Bay, California

Henkel

2006

J Field Ornithology

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“…and Pt. Santa Cruz in 1996 (Hebshi 1998) and averaged 80 breeding birds from 2003 to 2006 (Bechaver et al 2013). Nesting within Monterey Bay was first recorded in the mid-1990s and increased to nearly 2,500 breeding birds at 5 colonies by 2006 (Bechaver et al 2013 (Yoklavich et al 1991).…”

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

“…There also is some evidence that Brandt's Cormorant foraging behavior and diet vary as a function of habitat available near the colony or roost, likely because of their limited foraging range (Briggs et al 1987, Hebshi 1998. Hebshi (1998) (Breaker and Broenkow 1994, Rosenfeld et al 1994, Paduan and Rosenfeld 1996. Pulses of primary productivity also occur during spring, and occasionally fall, making the region productive for much of the year but less so during winter (November through January; Pennington and Chavez 2000).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Spatiotemporal Variability in the Diet of Nonbreeding Brandt's Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) in the Monterey Bay Region

Webb¹

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Brandt's Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) diet composition was investigated using pellets (n = 285) collected on 19 sampling days at 3 locations during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 nonbreeding seasons in the Monterey Bay region. The conventional diet method was used, and the efficacy of the all-structure technique was evaluated. Although 29 species were consumed, Northern Anchovy (Engraulis mordax) dominated the diet and Speckled Sanddab (Citharichthys stigmaeus) also was important. Few rockfishes (Sebastes spp.) and Market Squid (Doryteuthis opalescens) were consumed compared with the number consumed in previous studies in the region during the 1970s. El Niño and La Niña conditions during the study provided a unique opportunity to examine predator response. Greatest prey number and diversity occurred at locations within Monterey Bay during cooler ocean conditions, whereas the outer coast location remained unchanged. Short-term specialization was observed, but mean prey diversity indicated a generalist feeding mode. Patterns of prey number and diversity within a nonbreeding season were not consistent among locations. This study demonstrated the importance of periodic sampling at multiple locations within a region to detect spatiotemporal variability in the diet of this opportunistic generalist.

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The Potential for using Fish Refuges to Reduce Damage to Inland Fisheries by Cormorants,Phalacrocorax carbo

Russell

Dare

McKay

et al. 2003

Interactions Between Fish and Birds: Implications for Management

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Foraging Site Preferences of Brandt's Cormorants off the Santa Cruz, California, Coast

Cited by 4 publications

References 9 publications

Effect of water clarity on the distribution of marine birds in nearshore waters of Monterey Bay, California

Effect of water clarity on the distribution of marine birds in nearshore waters of Monterey Bay, California

Spatiotemporal Variability in the Diet of Nonbreeding Brandt's Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) in the Monterey Bay Region

The Potential for using Fish Refuges to Reduce Damage to Inland Fisheries by Cormorants,Phalacrocorax carbo

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