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Fernández CE, Luna-Jorquera G, Suazo CG, Quillfeldt P. At-sea distribution patterns of the Peruvian diving petrel Pelecanoides garnotii during breeding and non-breeding seasons. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14463. [PMID: 37660158 PMCID: PMC10475040 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40975-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023] Open
Abstract
At-sea distributions of seabird species are strongly associated with the distribution patterns of their prey, which are influenced by physical oceanic features. During breeding and non-breeding seasons, seabirds move extraordinary distances among different environments. However, foraging site fidelity by seabirds appears to be high in areas of known high productivity, such as frontal zones and upwellings. Here, we present a tracking study for the Peruvian diving-petrel Pelecanoides garnotii, an endemic seabird of the highly productive Humboldt Current System, to assess whether adults use the same foraging areas throughout the year, combining data from nest monitoring and global location sensors (GLS) deployed on 12 individuals between two breeding seasons (2013-2014 and 2014-2015), in Choros Island (29°15'S; 71°32'W), Chile. Two main foraging areas were registered. During the breeding season, adults moved in the northern direction, between 60 to 144 km away from their colony, foraging in areas with high primary productivity. During the non-breeding period, they moved to southern latitudes (~ 1200 km). Adults spent 37% and 63% of their time in flight/land and on/underwater activities, respectively. We determined that birds move northward from their colony during breeding, where prey availability seems more predictable throughout the year. However, during the non-breeding period, it is likely that other environmental factors influence the distribution pattern of the Peruvian diving-petrel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia E Fernández
- Doctorado en Biología y Ecología Aplicada, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Guillermo Luna-Jorquera
- Department of Marine Biology, Center for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands ESMOI, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile.
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile.
| | - Cristián G Suazo
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Petra Quillfeldt
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392, Giessen, Germany
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Jordan FD, Shaffer SA, Conners MG, Stepanuk JEF, Gilmour ME, Clatterbuck CA, Hazen EL, Palacios DM, Tremblay Y, Antolos M, Foley DG, Bograd SJ, Costa DP, Thorne LH. Divergent post-breeding spatial habitat use of Laysan and black-footed albatross. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1028317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the at-sea movements of wide-ranging seabird species throughout their annual cycle is essential for their conservation and management. Habitat use and resource partitioning of Laysan (Phoebastria immutabilis) and black-footed (Phoebastria nigripes) albatross are well-described during the breeding period but are less understood during the post-breeding period, which represents ~40% of their annual cycle. Resource partitioning may be reduced during post-breeding, when birds are not constrained to return to the nest site regularly and can disperse to reduce competitive pressure. We assessed the degree of spatial segregation in the post-breeding distributions of Laysan (n = 82) and black-footed albatrosses (n = 61) using geolocator tags between 2008 and 2012 from two large breeding colonies in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Midway Atoll, and Tern Island. We characterized the species-and colony-specific foraging and focal distributions (represented by the 95 and 50th density contours, respectively) and quantified segregation in at-sea habitat use between species and colonies. Laysan and black-footed albatross showed consistent and significant at-sea segregation in focal areas across colonies, indicating that resource partitioning persists during post-breeding. Within breeding colonies, segregation of foraging areas between the two species was more evident for birds breeding at Tern Island. Spatial segregation decreased as the post-breeding season progressed, when spatial distributions of both species became more dispersed. In contrast to studies conducted on breeding Laysan and black-footed albatross, we found that sea surface temperature distinguished post-breeding habitats of black-footed albatrosses between colonies, with black-footed albatrosses from Midway Atoll occurring in cooler waters (3.6°C cooler on average). Our results reveal marked at-sea segregation between Laysan and black-footed albatross breeding at two colonies during a critical but understudied phase in their annual cycle. The observed variation in species-environment relationships underscores the importance of sampling multiple colonies and temporal periods to more thoroughly understand the spatial distributions of pelagic seabirds.
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Fromant A, Eizenberg YH, Poupart T, Bustamante P, Arnould JPY. Year-round at-sea movements of fairy prions from southeastern Australia. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:220134. [PMID: 35620013 PMCID: PMC9128848 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Effective conservation assessments require detailed information of species' ecological niches during the whole annual cycle. For seabirds, this implies investigating the at-sea distribution and foraging behaviour during both the breeding and non-breeding periods. However, until recently, collecting information about small species has been precluded by the excessive size of the required devices. This lack of knowledge is exacerbated in the case of polytypic genera with species sharing very similar appearance and behaviour, such as the super-abundant prions (Pachyptila spp.). The present study investigates the year-round at-sea distribution and foraging ecology of the fairy prion (Pachyptila turtur) in southeastern Australia. Miniaturized GPS loggers during the breeding season and geolocators (GLS) during the non-breeding period were used over 4 consecutive years (2017-2021), with results that highlight the importance of the continental shelf-edge waters for fairy prions throughout the year. In addition, contrary to previous assumptions, the GLS data revealed an unsuspected post-breeding migration to the waters south of Australia, during which individuals probably undergo a rapid moult of flight feathers. Understanding the at-sea distribution and ecology of prions during the whole annual cycle will be fundamental to their conservation as it can reveal species- or population-specific threats that have been overlooked because of their status as abundant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aymeric Fromant
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372, CNRS, La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Yonina H. Eizenberg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372, CNRS, La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Timothée Poupart
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372, CNRS, La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266, La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 Rue Descartes, 75005 Paris, France
| | - John P. Y. Arnould
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
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Fromant A, Arnould JPY, Delord K, Sutton GJ, Carravieri A, Bustamante P, Miskelly CM, Kato A, Brault-Favrou M, Cherel Y, Bost CA. Stage-dependent niche segregation: insights from a multi-dimensional approach of two sympatric sibling seabirds. Oecologia 2022; 199:537-548. [PMID: 35606670 PMCID: PMC9309125 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05181-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Niche theory predicts that to reduce competition for the same resource, sympatric ecologically similar species should exploit divergent niches and segregate in one or more dimensions. Seasonal variations in environmental conditions and energy requirements can influence the mechanisms and the degree of niche segregation. However, studies have overlooked the multi-dimensional aspect of niche segregation over the whole annual cycle, and key facets of species co-existence still remain ambiguous. The present study provides insights into the niche use and partitioning of two morphologically and ecologically similar seabirds, the common (CDP, Pelecanoides urinatrix) and the South Georgian diving petrel (SGDP, Pelecanoides georgicus). Using phenology, at-sea distribution, diving behavior and isotopic data (during the incubation, chick-rearing and non-breeding periods), we show that the degree of partitioning was highly stage-dependent. During the breeding season, the greater niche segregation during chick-rearing than incubation supported the hypothesis that resource partitioning increases during energetically demanding periods. During the post breeding period, while species-specific latitudinal differences were expected (species specific water mass preference), CDP and SGDP also migrated in divergent directions. This segregation in migration area may not be only a response to the selective pressure arising from competition avoidance between sympatric species, but instead, could reflect past evolutionary divergence. Such stage-dependent and context-dependent niche segregation demonstrates the importance of integrative approaches combining techniques from different fields, throughout the entire annual cycle, to better understand the co-existence of ecologically similar species. This is particularly relevant in order to fully understand the short and long-term effects of ongoing environmental changes on species distributions and communities.This work demonstrates the need of integrative multi-dimensional approaches combining concepts and techniques from different fields to understand the mechanism and causal factors of niche segregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aymeric Fromant
- grid.1021.20000 0001 0526 7079School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC 3125 Australia ,grid.452338.b0000 0004 0638 6741Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS–La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - John P. Y. Arnould
- grid.1021.20000 0001 0526 7079School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC 3125 Australia
| | - Karine Delord
- grid.452338.b0000 0004 0638 6741Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS–La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Grace J. Sutton
- grid.1021.20000 0001 0526 7079School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC 3125 Australia
| | - Alice Carravieri
- grid.11698.370000 0001 2169 7335Littoral Environnement Et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS–La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Paco Bustamante
- grid.11698.370000 0001 2169 7335Littoral Environnement Et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS–La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France ,grid.440891.00000 0001 1931 4817Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Colin M. Miskelly
- grid.488640.60000 0004 0483 4475Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, PO Box 467, Wellington, 6140 New Zealand
| | - Akiko Kato
- grid.452338.b0000 0004 0638 6741Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS–La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Maud Brault-Favrou
- grid.11698.370000 0001 2169 7335Littoral Environnement Et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS–La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Yves Cherel
- grid.452338.b0000 0004 0638 6741Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS–La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Charles-André Bost
- grid.452338.b0000 0004 0638 6741Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS–La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
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Eizenberg YH, Fromant A, Lec’hvien A, Arnould JPY. Contrasting impacts of environmental variability on the breeding biology of two sympatric small procellariiform seabirds in south-eastern Australia. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250916. [PMID: 34516559 PMCID: PMC8437294 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Seabirds play a vital role in marine ecosystems and the long-term study of their responses to environmental variations can be used to monitor the effects of climate change on marine fauna. However, slight differences in similar seabird species result in a range of responses which complicates our understanding of the effects of environmental changes to marine ecosystems. The present study investigated inter-annual differences in the breeding biology (breeding phenology, chick growth rates and breeding success) and environmental conditions (seasonal sea surface temperatures) of important foraging areas in two sympatric small Procellariiform species, the fairy prion (Pachyptila turtur) and the common diving petrel (Pelecanoides urinatrix), over four reproductive seasons (2017–2020) in Bass Strait, south-eastern Australia. Marine heatwaves occurred during the years of 2018/19 and 2019/20 and coincided with years of delayed laying dates, slower chick growth and reduced breeding success, in both species. While fairy prions maintained a relatively high breeding success and broadly constant breeding phenology, common diving petrels delayed the start of the breeding season by up to 50 days and experienced dramatic collapses in breeding success in years of high marine heat wave occurrence. The difference in foraging ecology and physiological capacity (largely in the production of stomach oils and fasting abilities of adults and chicks) between both species are likely to influence the variability and phenology in the observed breeding seasons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonina H. Eizenberg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS–La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Aymeric Fromant
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS–La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Arnaud Lec’hvien
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia
| | - John P. Y. Arnould
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia
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