Four millennia of long-term individual foraging site fidelity in a highly migratory marine predator

Abstract

Theory and field studies suggest that long-term individual foraging site fidelity (IFSF) may be an important adaptation to competition from increasing population. However, the driving mechanisms and extent of long-term IFSF in wild populations of long-lived, migratory animals has been logistically difficult to study, with only a few confirmed instances. Temporal isotopic datasets can reveal long-term patterns in geographical foraging behaviour. We investigate the isotopic compositions of endangered short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) over four millennia leading up to their near-extinction. Although not exhibited by short-tailed albatross today, we show past sub-populations displayed a high-degree of long-term IFSF, focusing on the same locations for hundreds of generations. This is the first large-scale evidence for the deep antiquity of long-term IFSF and suggests that it’s density-driven. Globally, as populations of species like short-tailed albatross continue to recover from overexploitation, potential for resurgence of geographic specialization may increase exposure to localized hazards, requiring closer conservation monitoring.

Documenting the short‐tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) clades historically present in British Columbia, Canada, through ancient DNA analysis of archaeological specimens

“…Across the site's four stratigraphic zones, the abundance of short‐tailed albatross relative to other avifauna is fairly consistent (Range: 26.7%–39.6%, x̄ = 32.2%, s = .06) (McAllister, 1980 ), with no obvious temporal trends in the taxon's relative abundance. Stable isotope analyses similarly indicate the migratory behavior of short‐tailed albatrosses from Yuquot remained relatively stable, with individuals across time exhibiting a comparable high degree of site fidelity (Guiry et al, 2022 ). Guiry et al ( 2022 ) suggest this stability in migratory behavior indicates the albatross population foraging in the vicinity of Yuquot was not overexploited.…”

“…Stable isotope analyses similarly indicate the migratory behavior of short‐tailed albatrosses from Yuquot remained relatively stable, with individuals across time exhibiting a comparable high degree of site fidelity (Guiry et al, 2022 ). Guiry et al ( 2022 ) suggest this stability in migratory behavior indicates the albatross population foraging in the vicinity of Yuquot was not overexploited.…”

“…Interpreting compound‐specific as well as ‘bulk’ bone collagen δ 13 C and δ 15 N data, Vokhshoori et al ( 2019 ) found albatrosses from California foraged to a greater extent in the California Current System than Japanese or Russian birds. More recently, analyses of δ 13 C and δ 15 N values from short‐tailed albatrosses from Yuquot indicate they exhibit significantly less isotopic variation than archaeological populations from Japan, Russia, Oregon, and California (Guiry et al, 2022 ). Guiry et al ( 2022 ) interpret this low degree of isotopic variation to indicate that the albatrosses recovered from Yuquot likely had a high degree of foraging site fidelity relative to the individuals analyzed from other regions, with individuals returning year after year and generation after generation to forage near the site.…”

“…Interpreting compound-specific as well as 'bulk' bone collagen δ 13 C and δ 15 N data,Vokhshoori et al (2019) found albatrosses from California foraged to a greater extent in the California Current System than Japanese or Russian birds. More recently, analyses of δ 13 C and δ 15 N values from short-tailed albatrosses from Yuquot indicate they exhibit significantly less isotopic variation TA B L E 4 ent (Range: 26.7%-39.6%, x̄ = 32.2%, s = .06)(McAllister, 1980), with no obvious temporal trends in the taxon's relative abundance.Stable isotope analyses similarly indicate the migratory behavior of short-tailed albatrosses from Yuquot remained relatively stable, with individuals across time exhibiting a comparable high degree of site fidelity(Guiry et al, 2022) Guiry et al (2022). suggest this stability in migratory behavior indicates the albatross population foraging in the vicinity of Yuquot was not overexploited.…”

The ratting of North America: A 350-year retrospective on Rattus species compositions and competition

“…It is also worth reflecting on how these results highlight the importance of incorporating archaeological perspectives into understandings of animal behavior in urban spaces (71). Archaeology is uniquely positioned not only to contextualize broader scale trends in the origins, development, and trajectories of synanthropic animal behaviors that are driven by the evolution of urban environments [e.g., structures, food opportunities, and social attitudes; e.g., (3,4,20,26,27)] but also to provide access to a vast biomolecular archive with potential to rewrite the history of a variety of human-animal relationships [e.g., 72, [73][74][75]]. In the context of rat ecology, while there has been an explosion of publications in the recent literature, relatively little attention is given to the relative impacts of the two species (i.e., the implications of whether black, brown, or both rat species are present) on human health, wildlife, and the economy.…”