Pre-laying movements of Yelkouan Shearwaters (Puffinus yelkouan) in the Central Mediterranean

Gatt, Marie Claire; Lago, Paulo; Austad, Martin; Bonnet‐Lebrun, Anne‐Sophie; Metzger, Benjamin

doi:10.1007/s10336-019-01646-x

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…As we predicted, little auks during the pre-laying period performed foraging trips with a higher maximal range than later during the breeding period. This pattern is generally consistent with other seabirds, especially procellariforms [ 16 , 25 , 26 ]. However, direct comparison is not easy as, in contrast to the cited studies, our data were collected before the pre-laying exodus (Supplementary Materials Fig.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…Males, in contrast, often forage closer to the colony as they have to return regularly to the colony to defend the nest site and fertile female (when she comes back from sea) against intruders [ 23 , 27 ], and in some species also to be ready to take the first long incubation shift [ 13 , 24 , 28 ]. Thus, in many seabirds, trips performed during the pre-laying period are longer in time and distance compared to trips performed in other phases of breeding [ 16 , 25 , 26 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sex differences in foraging ecology of a zooplanktivorous little auk Alle alle during the pre-laying period: insights from remote sensing and animal-tracking

Jakubas,

Wojczulanis-Jakubas,

Iliszko

2024

Front Zool

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Background Energy and time allocation in seabirds differ between consecutive stages of breeding given various requirements of particular phases of the reproductive period. Theses allocations may also be sex-specific considering differential energetic or nutritional requirements of males and females and/or sexual segregation in foraging niches and/or areas. In this study we investigated the foraging ecology of an Arctic, zooplanktivorous seabird, the little auk Alle alle during the pre-laying period using remote sensing of the environment and GPS-TDR loggers deployed on birds. We compared foraging trips range and habitats of birds with other stages of the breeding period and between sexes. Results We found that little auks during the pre-laying period foraged exclusively in cold sea surface temperature zones (with temperatures < 5 ºC) but in various sea depth zones. They dived to similar depths ranging from -4.0 to -10.9 m, exploring various thermal microhabitats (with mean temperatures values ranging from 2.2 °C in Shelf sea depth zone to 5.9 °C in Deep sea depth zone). The majority of foraging trips and dives characteristics were similar to subsequent phases of breeding. However, home ranges during the pre-laying trips were wider compared to the incubation period. As expected, females exhibited wider foraging niches compared to males (wider range of sea surface temperature and sea depth in foraging locations), which could be explained by sex specific energetic and/or nutritional requirements (females producing an egg). We also delineated local foraging areas important for little auks during their whole breeding season. Protection of these areas is crucial for sustaining the local marine biodiversity. Conclusions We found that little auks females during the pre-laying period explored wider foraging niches compared to males. These differences may be attributed to sex-specific nutritional or/and energetical constraints at this stage of breeding. The results of this study also emphasize the importance of shelf Arctic-type water masses as the foraging areas for little auks during successive stages of breeding.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex differences in foraging ecology of a zooplanktivorous little auk Alle alle during the pre-laying period: insights from remote sensing and animal-tracking

Jakubas,

Wojczulanis-Jakubas,

Iliszko

2024

Front Zool

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“…On the other hand, males had a smaller range, remaining closer to the breeding areas than females. During the non-breeding period, males can likely satisfy their nutritional needs with the food available closer to the colony, as they do not need to physically prepare for the coming season's egg production (Gatt et al 2019). Nevertheless, possible limitations of our results should be considered such as differences in isoscapes (i.e., an error in phytoplankton isotopic values), dietary differences between males and females during post-breeding, as well as habitat differences (inshore vs offshore distribution, pelagic vs demersal preys, etc.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Isotopic Pattern Variability in the Breeding and Non-Breeding Black-Vented Shearwater

Rosas‐Hernández¹,

Albores‐Barajas

Soldatini³

et al. 2023

Waterbirds

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Seabirds utilize different foraging strategies based on their physical needs and environmental conditions during the stages of their reproductive cycle. During their breeding season, seabirds assume a central-place foraging strategy, while after the reproductive season, during their molt, they migrate to distant non-breeding grounds where they remain for several months. Until recently, little was known about their distribution and ecology during migration. This gap in knowledge regarding large-scale movements and ecology could be filled by analyzing isotopic ratios of carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) in the feathers. Analyzing stable isotope ratios provides insights into the species' foraging ecology and variations along the molting period. We first ascertained the molting strategy of the Black-vented Shearwaters (Puffinus opisthomelas). We then inferred their non-breeding period distribution range and variations in the trophic niche by analysing stable isotopes in feathers. The observed δ 13 C values reveal that these birds all migrate to similar terminal non-breeding areas.Values of δ15N were similar between sexes during winter and up to the reproductive period; however, their levels were distinct during the post-breeding period. Sexes exploited slightly different trophic levels during the post-breeding period, differently using coastal and pelagic waters, likely to reduce competition during their postbreeding molt.

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“…Information on the spatial ecology of the species is scarce, and the knowledge on feeding movements and feeding areas is based on observations carried out at diurnal concentration sites or near bottleneck areas such as the Bosphorous or the Bonifacio Strait (Şahin et al., 2012; Zenatello et al., 2006). Tracking studies on yelkouan shearwaters breeding in the Mediterranean Sea indicated that birds from French colonies in the Hyères Archipelago mainly move westward along the coast to the adjacent Gulf of Lion (Péron et al., 2013), whereas those from the Maltese colonies show a high individual variability moving both toward the coast of Tunisia/western Libya and to the Aegean Sea (Gatt et al., 2019; Raine et al., 2013). The Sardinian key‐site of Tavolara‐Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area hosts the largest known breeding population of the species, estimated at 9,991–13,424 pairs (Zenatello et al., 2006) which, considering the most recent population estimates (Gaudard, 2018), could represent up to 55% of the global breeding population.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Productivity changes in the Mediterranean Sea drive foraging movements of yelkouan shearwater Puffinus yelkouan from the core of its global breeding range

et al. 2021

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Pelagic seabirds are tied to their breeding colonies throughout their long‐lasting breeding season, but at the same time, they have to feed in a highly dynamic marine environment where prey abundance and availability rapidly change across space and seasons. Here, we describe the foraging movements of yelkouan shearwater Puffinus yelkouan, a seabird endemic to the Mediterranean Sea that spends its entire life cycle within this enclosed basin and whose future conservation is intimately linked to human‐driven and climatic changes affecting the sea. The aim was to understand the main factors underlying the choice of foraging locations during the reproductive phases. A total of 34 foraging trips were obtained from 21 breeding adults tagged and tracked on Tavolara Archipelago (N Sardinia, Italy). This is the largest and most important breeding area for the species, accounting for more than 50% of the world population. The relationships between foraging movements during two different breeding stages and the seasonal changes of primary productivity at sea were modeled. Movements appeared to be addressed toward inshore (<20 km), highly productive, and relatively shallow (<200 m) foraging areas, often in front of river mouths and at great distances from the colony. During incubation, the Bonifacio Strait and other coastal areas close to North and West Sardinia were the most preferred locations (up to 247 km from the colony). During the chick‐rearing phase, some individuals reached areas placed at greater distances from the colony (up to 579 km), aiming at food‐rich hotspots placed as far north as the Gulf of Lion (France). The need for such long distance and long‐lasting foraging trips is hypothesized to be related to unfavorable conditions on the less productive (and already depleted) Sardinian waters.

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Pre-laying movements of Yelkouan Shearwaters (Puffinus yelkouan) in the Central Mediterranean

Cited by 7 publications

References 24 publications

Sex differences in foraging ecology of a zooplanktivorous little auk Alle alle during the pre-laying period: insights from remote sensing and animal-tracking

Sex differences in foraging ecology of a zooplanktivorous little auk Alle alle during the pre-laying period: insights from remote sensing and animal-tracking

The Isotopic Pattern Variability in the Breeding and Non-Breeding Black-Vented Shearwater

Productivity changes in the Mediterranean Sea drive foraging movements of yelkouan shearwater Puffinus yelkouan from the core of its global breeding range

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