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Pulvirenti J, Reina RD, Chiaradia A. Exploring subcolony differences in foraging and reproductive success: the influence of environmental conditions on a central place foraging seabird. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:220362. [PMID: 37388318 PMCID: PMC10300673 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220362] [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: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
While differences in foraging and reproductive success are well studied between seabird colonies, they are less understood at a smaller subcolony scale. Working with little penguins (Eudyptula minor) at Phillip Island, Australia, we used an automated penguin monitoring system and performed regular nest checks at two subcolonies situated 2 km apart during the 2015/2016 breeding seasons. We examined whether foraging and reproductive success differed between subcolonies. We used satellite data to examine how sea surface temperature, as environmental pressure, in the foraging regions from each subcolony influenced their foraging performance. In the pre-laying and incubation breeding stages, the birds from one subcolony had a lower foraging success than birds from the other. However, this pattern was reversed between the subcolonies in the guard and post-guard stages. Breeding success data from the two subcolonies from 2004-2018 showed that reproductive success and mean egg-laying had a negative relationship with sea surface temperature. We highlighted that variation in foraging and reproductive success can arise in subcolonies, likely due to different responses to environmental conditions and prey availability. Differences at the subcolony level can help refine, develop and improve appropriate species management plans for conserving a range of colonial central place seabirds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Pulvirenti
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Richard D. Reina
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Andre Chiaradia
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Conservation Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, PO Box 97, Cowes, Victoria 3922, Australia
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2
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Important marine areas for endangered African penguins before and after the crucial stage of moulting. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9489. [PMID: 35676286 PMCID: PMC9177839 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12969-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The population of the Endangered African penguin Spheniscus demersus has decreased by > 65% in the last 20 years. A major driver of this decrease has been the reduced availability of their principal prey, sardine Sardinops sagax and anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus. To date, conservation efforts to improve prey availability have focused on spatial management strategies to reduce resource competition with purse-seine fisheries during the breeding season. However, penguins also undergo an annual catastrophic moult when they are unable to feed for several weeks. Before moulting they must accumulate sufficient energy stores to survive this critical life-history stage. Using GPS tracking data collected between 2012 and 2019, we identify important foraging areas for pre- and post-moult African penguins at three of their major colonies in South Africa: Dassen Island and Stony Point (Western Cape) and Bird Island (Eastern Cape). The foraging ranges of pre- and post-moult adult African penguins (c. 600 km from colony) was far greater than that previously observed for breeding penguins (c. 50 km from colony) and varied considerably between sites, years and pre- and post-moult stages. Despite their more extensive range during the non-breeding season, waters within 20 and 50 km of their breeding colonies were used intensively and represent important foraging areas to pre- and post-moult penguins. Furthermore, penguins in the Western Cape travelled significantly further than those in the Eastern Cape which is likely a reflection of the poor prey availability along the west coast of South Africa. Our findings identify important marine areas for pre- and post-moult African penguins and support for the expansion of fisheries-related spatio-temporal management strategies to help conserve African penguins outside the breeding season.
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3
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Saraux C, Chiaradia A. Age‐related breeding success in little penguins: a result of selection and ontogenetic changes in foraging and phenology. ECOL MONOGR 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Claire Saraux
- DEPE UMR7178 IPHC CNRS‐Université de Strasbourg 23 rue du Loess 67037 Strasbourg France
| | - Andre Chiaradia
- Conservation Department Phillip Island Nature Parks PO Box 97 Cowes Victoria 3922 Australia
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Drummond BA, Orben RA, Christ AM, Fleishman AB, Renner HM, Rojek NA, Romano MD. Comparing non-breeding distribution and behavior of red-legged kittiwakes from two geographically distant colonies. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254686. [PMID: 34270622 PMCID: PMC8284784 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of non-breeding distributions is a crucial component to seabird conservation, as conditions during the non-breeding period can play an important role in regulating seabird populations. Specifically, if seabirds from different colonies share the same wintering grounds, conditions in that shared region could have a widespread impact on multiple breeding populations. Red-legged kittiwakes (Rissa brevirostris) are endemic to the Bering Sea and may be especially susceptible to effects of climate change due to a restricted breeding range, small population size, and specialized diet. To examine whether red-legged kittiwakes from different breeding colonies overlapped in winter distribution and activity patterns, we used geolocation loggers to simultaneously track individuals from the two largest red-legged kittiwake breeding colonies in Alaska (separated by over 1000 km) during two consecutive non-breeding periods. We found that non-breeding activity patterns were generally similar between birds originating from the two colonies, but birds employed different migratory strategies during the early winter. Kittiwakes from Buldir Island in the western Aleutian Islands left the colony in September and immediately headed west, spending October through December around the Sea of Okhotsk and the Kuril Islands. In contrast, birds from St. George Island in the Pribilof Islands remained in the eastern Bering Sea or around the eastern Aleutian Islands for a couple months before traveling farther west. During late winter however, from January through March, birds from both colonies converged south of Kamchatka and east of the Kuril Islands over the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench and in the Western Subarctic Gyre before returning to their respective colonies in the spring. This late winter overlap in distributions along the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench suggests the region is a winter hotspot for red-legged kittiwakes and highlights the importance of this region for the global kittiwake population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brie A. Drummond
- Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Homer, Alaska, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Rachael A. Orben
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Aaron M. Christ
- Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Homer, Alaska, United States of America
| | - Abram B. Fleishman
- Conservation Metrics, Inc., Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
| | - Heather M. Renner
- Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Homer, Alaska, United States of America
| | - Nora A. Rojek
- Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Homer, Alaska, United States of America
| | - Marc D. Romano
- Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Homer, Alaska, United States of America
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5
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Barreau E, Kato A, Chiaradia A, Ropert-Coudert Y. The consequences of chaos: Foraging activity of a marine predator remains impacted several days after the end of a storm. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254269. [PMID: 34242336 PMCID: PMC8270419 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
As extreme weather is expected to become more frequent with global climate change, it is crucial to evaluate the capacity of species to respond to short-term and unpredictable events. Here, we examined the effect of a strong storm event during the chick-rearing stage of little penguins (Eudyptula minor) from a mega colony in southern Australia. We investigated how a 3-day storm affected the foraging behaviour of little penguins by comparing their foraging activities and body mass change before, during and after the storm event. As strong winds deepened the mixed layer in the birds' foraging zone during the storm, penguins increased their foraging trip duration, had a lower prey encounter rate and a lower body mass gain. The adverse effects on the foraging efficiency of little penguins continued several days after the storm ceased; even though the water column stratification had returned as before the storm, suggesting a prolonged effect of the storm event on the prey availability. Thus, short-term stochastic events can have an extended impact on the foraging efficiency of penguins. When occurring at a crucial stage of breeding, this may affect breeding success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuelle Barreau
- Centre d’Études Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS—La Rochelle Université, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Akiko Kato
- Centre d’Études Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS—La Rochelle Université, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Andre Chiaradia
- Conservation Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Cowes, VIC, Australia
| | - Yan Ropert-Coudert
- Centre d’Études Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS—La Rochelle Université, Villiers en Bois, France
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6
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Ramírez F, Chiaradia A, O'Leary DA, Reina RD. Making the most of the old age: Autumn breeding as an extra reproductive investment in older seabirds. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:5393-5401. [PMID: 34026015 PMCID: PMC8131812 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The extrinsic and intrinsic factors affecting differing reproductive strategies among populations are central to understanding population and evolutionary ecology. To evaluate whether individual reproductive strategies responded to annual patterns in marine productivity and age-related processes in a seabird we used a long term (2003-2013), a continuous dataset on nest occupancy and attendance at the colony by little penguins (Eudyptula minor) at Phillip Island (Victoria, Australia). We found that concurrent with a secondary annual peak of marine productivity, a secondary peak in colony attendance and nest occupancy was observed in Autumn (out of the regular breeding season in spring/summer) with individuals showing mating-like behavior. Individuals attending this autumn peak averaged 2.5 years older than those individuals that exclusively bred during spring/summer. Rather than being a naïve response by younger and inexperienced birds misreading environmental cues, our data indicate that the autumn peak attendance is an earlier attempt to breed by older and more experienced penguins. Therefore, we provide strong support for the fundamental prediction of the life-history theory of increasing investment in reproduction with age to maximize lifetime fitness as future survival prospects diminish and experience increases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Ramírez
- Department of Renewable Marine ResourcesInstitut de Ciències del Mar (ICM‐CSIC)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Andre Chiaradia
- School of Biological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVICAustralia
- Conservation DepartmentPhillip Island Nature ParksCowesVICAustralia
| | | | - Richard D. Reina
- School of Biological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVICAustralia
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7
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Gémard C, Aubin T, Reboud EL, Bonadonna F. Call rate, fundamental frequency, and syntax determine male-call attractiveness in blue petrels Halobaena caerulea. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-02989-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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8
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Cavallo C, Chiaradia A, Deagle BE, Hays GC, Jarman S, McInnes JC, Ropert‐Coudert Y, Sánchez S, Reina RD. Quantifying prey availability using the foraging plasticity of a marine predator, the little penguin. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Cavallo
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton VIC Australia
| | - André Chiaradia
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton VIC Australia
- Conservation Department Phillip Island Nature Parks Cowes VIC Australia
| | - Bruce E. Deagle
- Australian Antarctic Division Kingston TAS Australia
- CSIRO National Research Collections‐Australian National Fish Collection Hobart TAS Australia
| | - Graeme C. Hays
- Centre for Integrative Ecology School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Geelong VIC Australia
| | - Simon Jarman
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia Perth WA Australia
| | - Julie C. McInnes
- Australian Antarctic Division Kingston TAS Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart TAS Australia
| | - Yan Ropert‐Coudert
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé UMR7372 CNRSLa Rochelle Université Villiers‐en‐Bois France
| | - Sonia Sánchez
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton VIC Australia
| | - Richard D. Reina
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton VIC Australia
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9
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Burant JB, Griffin A, Betini GS, Norris DR. An experimental test of the ecological mechanisms driving density-mediated carry-over effects in a seasonal population. CAN J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2019-0271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Carry-over effects occur when past experience influences current individual performance. Although variation in conspecific density in one season has been shown to carry over to influence dynamics in the following season, the proximate ecological mechanisms driving these effects are unknown. One hypothesis is that high density decreases food availability, resulting in poor physiological condition, which in turn compromises performance the next season. Alternatively, high conspecific density could also lead to a high degree of antagonistic interactions, decreasing the amount of time individuals spend foraging. To investigate these hypotheses, we applied a factorial design where both conspecific density and per capita food availability during the non-breeding period were independently manipulated in seasonal populations of common fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, 1830). Individual condition at the beginning of the breeding period was influenced by per capita food availability but not density during the previous non-breeding period. In contrast, reproductive output was most strongly influenced by the interaction between per capita food availability and density in the previous non-breeding period, such that populations that experienced high non-breeding densities and low food availability had the lowest reproductive output. However, the strength of this effect was relatively weak. Our results demonstrate how environmental and social conditions in one part of the annual cycle can carry over to influence individual performance in subsequent periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph B. Burant
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Aidan Griffin
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Gustavo S. Betini
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - D. Ryan Norris
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
- Nature Conservancy of Canada, 245 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 410, Toronto, ON M4P 3J1, Canada
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10
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Boersma P, Borboroglu PG, Gownaris N, Bost C, Chiaradia A, Ellis S, Schneider T, Seddon P, Simeone A, Trathan P, Waller L, Wienecke B. Applying science to pressing conservation needs for penguins. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2020; 34:103-112. [PMID: 31257646 PMCID: PMC7027562 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
More than half of the world's 18 penguin species are declining. We, the Steering Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission Penguin Specialist Group, determined that the penguin species in most critical need of conservation action are African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), Galápagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus), and Yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes). Due to small or rapidly declining populations, these species require immediate scientific collaboration and policy intervention. We also used a pairwise-ranking approach to prioritize research and conservation needs for all penguins. Among the 12 cross-taxa research areas we identified, we ranked quantifying population trends, estimating demographic rates, forecasting environmental patterns of change, and improving the knowledge of fisheries interactions as the highest priorities. The highest ranked conservation needs were to enhance marine spatial planning, improve stakeholder engagement, and develop disaster-management and species-specific action plans. We concurred that, to improve the translation of science into effective conservation for penguins, the scientific community and funding bodies must recognize the importance of and support long-term research; research on and conservation of penguins must expand its focus to include the nonbreeding season and juvenile stage; marine reserves must be designed at ecologically appropriate spatial and temporal scales; and communication between scientists and decision makers must be improved with the help of individual scientists and interdisciplinary working groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- P.D. Boersma
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinels and Department of BiologyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWA98103U.S.A.
- Global Penguin SocietyPuerto Madryn9120Argentina
| | - P. García Borboroglu
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinels and Department of BiologyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWA98103U.S.A.
- Global Penguin SocietyPuerto Madryn9120Argentina
- CESIMAR CCT Cenpat‐CONICET9120Puerto MadrynChubutArgentina
| | - N.J. Gownaris
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinels and Department of BiologyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWA98103U.S.A.
| | - C.A. Bost
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé79360Villiers‐en‐BoisFrance
| | - A. Chiaradia
- Conservation DepartmentPhillip Island Nature ParksCowesVIC3922Australia
| | - S. Ellis
- International Rhino FoundationStrasburgVA22657U.S.A.
| | - T. Schneider
- Detroit Zoological SocietyRoyal OakMI48067U.S.A.
| | - P.J. Seddon
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of OtagoDunedin9016New Zealand
| | - A. Simeone
- Facultad de Ciencias de la VidaUniversidad Andres BelloSantiago8370146Chile
| | | | - L.J. Waller
- Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB)Cape Town7441South Africa
- Department of Biodiversity and Conservation BiologyUniversity of the Western CapeBellvilleCape Town7535South Africa
| | - B. Wienecke
- Australian Antarctic DivisionKingstonTAS7050Australia
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11
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Gownaris NJ, García Borboroglu P, Boersma PD. Sex ratio is variable and increasingly male biased at two colonies of Magellanic Penguins. Ecology 2020; 101:e02939. [DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Natasha J. Gownaris
- Environmental Studies Department Gettysburg College Gettysburg Pennsylvania 17325 USA
| | - Pablo García Borboroglu
- Department of Biology and Center for Ecosystem Sentinels University of Washington Seattle Washington 98103 USA
- Global Penguin Society Puerto Madryn Argentina
| | - P. Dee Boersma
- Department of Biology and Center for Ecosystem Sentinels University of Washington Seattle Washington 98103 USA
- Global Penguin Society Puerto Madryn Argentina
- CESIMAR CCT Cenpat‐CONICET 9120Puerto Madryn Chubut Argentina
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12
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Studholme KR, Hipfner JM, Romero LM, Gormally BM, Iverson SJ, Crossin GT. Egg size is independent of variation in pre-breeding feather corticosterone in Cassin's auklets during favorable oceanographic conditions. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2018; 268:64-70. [PMID: 30056135 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The measurement of corticosterone levels in feathers (fCort) is gaining recognition as an effective means for describing links between stages of the annual cycle in birds. Many seabirds are especially good models for exploring these links, or carryover effects, due to their migratory behavior and reproductive investment in a single-egg clutch. Here, we measure fCort in Cassin's auklet (Ptychoramphus aleuticus) breast feathers at two colonies in British Columbia during 2011, a year of favorable oceanographic conditions, and examine its relationship with egg size. These feathers are grown at sea during the late winter period, 1-2 months prior to egg laying. Assuming that fCort provides some measure of nutritional stress and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity during feather growth, we predicted that fCort would be positively correlated with egg size via increased support for foraging activity during the nutritionally demanding molt stage. We also analyzed the δ13C and δ15N stable isotope content of breast feathers, measures commonly used to characterize seabird diet composition. Contrary to prediction, neither fCort nor stable isotope ratios were good predictors of egg size. Our results appear to conflict with two previous studies on alcids in which fCort and stable isotopes showed clear links with egg size; however, both studies were conducted in years when oceanographic and foraging conditions were poor. Under these conditions, upregulation of corticosterone may be needed to mediate the energetic tradeoffs between self-maintenance and reproduction, supporting increased foraging effort and thus increasing both the likelihood of reproduction and large egg size. However, when foraging conditions are favorable, we suggest that such tradeoffs and associated physiological constraints are minimized and regulation of egg size may be effectively independent of circulating corticosterone levels and diet type.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - J Mark Hipfner
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Wildlife Research Division, Delta, British Columbia V4K 3N2, Canada
| | | | | | - Sara J Iverson
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Glenn T Crossin
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
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13
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Guindre-Parker S, Rubenstein DR. No short-term physiological costs of offspring care in a cooperatively breeding bird. J Exp Biol 2018; 221:jeb.186569. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.186569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The cost of reproduction results in a life-history trade-off where investment in current reproduction via costly parental care decreases subsequent fitness. Although this trade-off is thought to occur ubiquitously across animals, there is equivocal evidence that parental care behaviours are costly. A major challenge of studying the cost of parental care has been a lack of consensus over which physiological mechanisms underlie this trade-off. Here we compare four traits believed to mediate the cost of parental care by examining whether glucocorticoids, oxidative stress, immune function, or body condition represent a cost of performing offspring care and shape subsequent fitness. We use a 4-year dataset collected in free-living cooperatively breeding superb starlings (Lamprotornis superbus), a species in which parental and alloparental care effort varies widely among individuals and across years. Our results showed that within-individual change in physiology was unrelated to investment in offspring care, and physiological state during chick-rearing did not predict the likelihood that an individual would breeding in subsequent seasons. Instead, individuals that had elevated baseline corticosterone during incubation performed more nest guarding, suggesting that this hormone may play a preparatory role for investing in offspring care. Together, our results indicate that superb starlings modify their investment in offspring care according to their physiological state during incubation, despite no evidence of a short-term physiological cost of parental or alloparental care. Thus, breeding cooperatively appears to provide individuals with the flexibility to adjust their investment in offspring care and overcome any potential costs of reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Guindre-Parker
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi
| | - Dustin R. Rubenstein
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi
- Center for Integrative Animal Behavior, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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14
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Sherley RB, Botha P, Underhill LG, Ryan PG, van Zyl D, Cockcroft AC, Crawford RJM, Dyer BM, Cook TR. Defining ecologically relevant scales for spatial protection with long-term data on an endangered seabird and local prey availability. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2017; 31:1312-1321. [PMID: 28248436 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2016] [Revised: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/25/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Human activities are important drivers of marine ecosystem functioning. However, separating the synergistic effects of fishing and environmental variability on the prey base of nontarget predators is difficult, often because prey availability estimates on appropriate scales are lacking. Understanding how prey abundance at different spatial scales links to population change can help integrate the needs of nontarget predators into fisheries management by defining ecologically relevant areas for spatial protection. We investigated the local population response (number of breeders) of the Bank Cormorant (Phalacrocorax neglectus), a range-restricted endangered seabird, to the availability of its prey, the heavily fished west coast rock lobster (Jasus lalandii). Using Bayesian state-space modeled cormorant counts at 3 colonies, 22 years of fisheries-independent data on local lobster abundance, and generalized additive modeling, we determined the spatial scale pertinent to these relationships in areas with different lobster availability. Cormorant numbers responded positively to lobster availability in the regions with intermediate and high abundance but not where regime shifts and fishing pressure had depleted lobster stocks. The relationships were strongest when lobsters 20-30 km offshore of the colony were considered, a distance greater than the Bank Cormorant's foraging range when breeding, and may have been influenced by prey availability for nonbreeding birds, prey switching, or prey ecology. Our results highlight the importance of considering the scale of ecological relationships in marine spatial planning and suggest that designing spatial protection around focal species can benefit marine predators across their full life cycle. We propose the precautionary implementation of small-scale marine protected areas, followed by robust assessment and adaptive-management, to confirm population-level benefits for the cormorants, their prey, and the wider ecosystem, without negative impacts on local fisheries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard B Sherley
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, U.K
- Animal Demography Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
| | - Philna Botha
- Animal Demography Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
| | - Les G Underhill
- Animal Demography Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
- Marine Research Institute, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
| | - Peter G Ryan
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
| | - Danie van Zyl
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), Private Bag X2, Rogge Bay, 8012, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Andrew C Cockcroft
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), Private Bag X2, Rogge Bay, 8012, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Robert J M Crawford
- Animal Demography Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
- Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), P.O. Box 52126, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa
| | - Bruce M Dyer
- Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), P.O. Box 52126, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa
| | - Timothée R Cook
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
- Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Evolutionary Eco-physiology Team, University Pierre et Marie Curie, Bâtiment A-7ème étage, 7 quai, St Bernard, 75005, Paris, France
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15
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Baylis AMM, Orben RA, Costa DP, Tierney M, Brickle P, Staniland IJ. Habitat use and spatial fidelity of male South American sea lions during the nonbreeding period. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:3992-4002. [PMID: 28616194 PMCID: PMC5468127 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Revised: 02/26/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Conditions experienced during the nonbreeding period have profound long‐term effects on individual fitness and survival. Therefore, knowledge of habitat use during the nonbreeding period can provide insights into processes that regulate populations. At the Falkland Islands, the habitat use of South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens) during the nonbreeding period is of particular interest because the population is yet to recover from a catastrophic decline between the mid‐1930s and 1965, and nonbreeding movements are poorly understood. Here, we assessed the habitat use of adult male (n = 13) and juvenile male (n = 6) South American sea lions at the Falkland Islands using satellite tags and stable isotope analysis of vibrissae. Male South American sea lions behaved like central place foragers. Foraging trips were restricted to the Patagonian Shelf and were typically short in distance and duration (127 ± 66 km and 4.1 ± 2.0 days, respectively). Individual male foraging trips were also typically characterized by a high degree of foraging site fidelity. However, the isotopic niche of adult males was smaller than juvenile males, which suggested that adult males were more consistent in their use of foraging habitats and prey over time. Our findings differ from male South American sea lions in Chile and Argentina, which undertake extended movements during the nonbreeding period. Hence, throughout their breeding range, male South American sea lions have diverse movement patterns during the nonbreeding period that intuitively reflects differences in the predictability or accessibility of preferred prey. Our findings challenge the long‐standing notion that South American sea lions undertake a winter migration away from the Falkland Islands. Therefore, impediments to South American sea lion population recovery likely originate locally and conservation measures at a national level are likely to be effective in addressing the decline and the failure of the population to recover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alastair M M Baylis
- Department of Biological Sciences Macquarie University Sydney NSW Australia.,Icelandic Seal Centre Hvammstangi Iceland.,South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute Stanley Falkland Islands
| | - Rachael A Orben
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Hatfield Marine Science Center Oregon State University Newport OR USA
| | - Daniel P Costa
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
| | - Megan Tierney
- South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute Stanley Falkland Islands
| | - Paul Brickle
- South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute Stanley Falkland Islands.,School of Biological Science (Zoology) University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
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16
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Favaro L, Gamba M, Gili C, Pessani D. Acoustic correlates of body size and individual identity in banded penguins. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0170001. [PMID: 28199318 PMCID: PMC5310857 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal vocalisations play a role in individual recognition and mate choice. In nesting penguins, acoustic variation in vocalisations originates from distinctiveness in the morphology of the vocal apparatus. Using the source-filter theory approach, we investigated vocal individuality cues and correlates of body size and mass in the ecstatic display songs the Humboldt and Magellanic penguins. We demonstrate that both fundamental frequency (f0) and formants (F1-F4) are essential vocal features to discriminate among individuals. However, we show that only duration and f0 are honest indicators of the body size and mass, respectively. We did not find any effect of body dimension on formants, formant dispersion nor estimated vocal tract length of the emitters. Overall, our findings provide the first evidence that the resonant frequencies of the vocal tract do not correlate with body size in penguins. Our results add important information to a growing body of literature on the role of the different vocal parameters in conveying biologically meaningful information in bird vocalisations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livio Favaro
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Marco Gamba
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Claudia Gili
- Acquario di Genova, Costa Edutainment SpA, Genoa, Italy
| | - Daniela Pessani
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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17
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18
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Colombelli‐Négrel D. Both natural selection and isolation by distance explain phenotypic divergence in bill size and body mass between South Australian little penguin colonies. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:7965-7975. [PMID: 27878069 PMCID: PMC5108249 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Revised: 08/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Morphological variation between populations of the same species can arise as a response to genetic variation, local environmental conditions, or a combination of both. In this study, I examined small‐scale geographic variation in bill size and body mass in little penguins (Eudyptula minor) across five breeding colonies in South Australia separated by <150 km. To help understand patterns driving the differences, I investigated these variations in relation to environmental parameters (air temperature, sea surface temperature, and water depth) and geographic distances between the colonies. I found substantial morphological variation among the colonies for body mass and bill measurements (except bill length). Colonies further located from each other showed greater morphological divergence overall than adjacent colonies. In addition, phenotypic traits were somewhat correlated to environmental parameters. Birds at colonies surrounded by hotter sea surface temperatures were heavier with longer and larger bills. Birds with larger and longer bills were also found at colonies surrounded by shallower waters. Overall, the results suggest that both environmental factors (natural selection) and interpopulation distances (isolation by distance) are causes of phenotypic differentiation between South Australian little penguin colonies.
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19
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Boves TJ, Fairhurst GD, Rushing CS, Buehler DA. Feather corticosterone levels are related to age and future body condition, but not to subsequent fitness, in a declining migratory songbird. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2016; 4:cow041. [PMID: 27729982 PMCID: PMC5055283 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cow041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Revised: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 08/27/2016] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
In migratory species, breeding and non-breeding locations are geographically separate, yet the effects of conditions from one stage may carry over to affect a subsequent stage. Ideally, to understand the mechanisms and implications of 'carry-over effects', one would need to follow individuals throughout the year, quantify potential environmental causal factors and physiological mediators during multiple life-history stages, and measure downstream fitness. Owing to current limitations of tracking technology, this is impossible for small, long-distance migrants, so indirect methods to characterize carry-over effects are required. Corticosterone (CORT) is a suspected physiological mediator of carry-over effects, but when collected from blood it provides only a physiological snapshot at that point in time. When extracted from feathers, however, feather corticosterone (CORTf) provides a measure of responses to stressors from previous, and longer, time periods. We collected feathers grown during two life-history stages (post-breeding and subsequent wintering) from individuals of two age classes of a rapidly declining migratory songbird, the cerulean warbler (Setophaga cerulea), on their breeding grounds and quantified CORTf concentrations. We then monitored reproduction and survival of individuals and analysed relationships among CORTf and age, body condition and future fitness. Compared with older males, second-year males had higher CORTf concentrations during both stages. When controlling for age and year, body condition at capture was positively related to CORTf concentrations from winter (especially for older birds). However, we found no relationships between CORTf and fitness (as defined by reproduction and survival). Thus, elevated CORT may represent a beneficial physiological response (e.g. hyperphagia prior to migration), particularly for certain life-history stages, and may mediate the condition in which individuals transition between stages. But for those birds that survive migration, subsequent fitness is likely determined by more recent events and local conditions (i.e. on breeding grounds), which have the potential to counteract conditions from the winter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Than J. Boves
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR 72401, USA
| | - Graham D. Fairhurst
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, CanadaSK S7N 5E2
| | - Clark S. Rushing
- Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC 20008, USA
| | - David A. Buehler
- Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37966, USA
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20
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Rodríguez A, Chiaradia A, Wasiak P, Renwick L, Dann P. Waddling on the Dark Side: Ambient Light Affects Attendance Behavior of Little Penguins. J Biol Rhythms 2016; 31:194-204. [PMID: 26823445 DOI: 10.1177/0748730415626010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Visible light on Earth largely comes from the sun, including light reflected from the moon. Predation risk is strongly determined by light conditions, and some animals are nocturnal to reduce predation. Artificial lights and its consequent light pollution may disrupt this natural behavior. Here, we used 13 years of attendance data to study the effects of sun, moon, and artificial light on the attendance pattern of a nocturnal seabird, the little penguin Eudyptula minor at Phillip Island, Australia. The little penguin is the smallest and the only penguin species whose activity on land is strictly nocturnal. Automated monitoring systems recorded individually marked penguins every time they arrived (after sunset) at or departed (before sunrise) from 2 colonies under different lighting conditions: natural night skylight and artificial lights (around 3 lux) used to enhance penguin viewing for ecotourism around sunset. Sunlight had a strong effect on attendance as penguins arrived on average around 81 min after sunset and departed around 92 min before sunrise. The effect of moonlight was also strong, varying according to moon phase. Fewer penguins came ashore during full moon nights. Moon phase effect was stronger on departure than arrival times. Thus, during nights between full moon and last quarter, arrival times (after sunset) were delayed, even though moonlight levels were low, while departure times (before sunrise) were earlier, coinciding with high moonlight levels. Cyclic patterns of moon effect were slightly out of phase but significantly between 2 colonies, which could be due to site-specific differences or presence/absence of artificial lights. Moonlight could be overridden by artificial light at our artificially lit colony, but the similar amplitude of attendance patterns between colonies suggests that artificial light did not mask the moonlight effect. Further research is indeed necessary to understand how seabirds respond to the increasing artificial night light levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Airam Rodríguez
- Research Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Summerlands, Victoria, Australia Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville, Spain
| | - André Chiaradia
- Research Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Summerlands, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paula Wasiak
- Research Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Summerlands, Victoria, Australia
| | - Leanne Renwick
- Research Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Summerlands, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter Dann
- Research Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Summerlands, Victoria, Australia
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21
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Chiaradia A, Ramírez F, Forero MG, Hobson KA. Stable Isotopes (δ13C, δ15N) Combined with Conventional Dietary Approaches Reveal Plasticity in Central-Place Foraging Behavior of Little Penguins Eudyptula minor. Front Ecol Evol 2016. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2015.00154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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22
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Environmental variability drives shifts in the foraging behaviour and reproductive success of an inshore seabird. Oecologia 2015; 178:967-79. [PMID: 25894092 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-015-3294-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Marine animals forage in areas that aggregate prey to maximize their energy intake. However, these foraging 'hot spots' experience environmental variability, which can substantially alter prey availability. To survive and reproduce animals need to modify their foraging in response to these prey shifts. By monitoring their inter-annual foraging behaviours, we can understand which environmental variables affect their foraging efficiency, and can assess how they respond to environmental variability. Here, we monitored the foraging behaviour and isotopic niche of little penguins (Eudyptula minor), over 3 years (2008, 2011, and 2012) of climatic and prey variability within Port Phillip Bay, Australia. During drought (2008), penguins foraged in close proximity to the Yarra River outlet on a predominantly anchovy-based diet. In periods of heavy rainfall, when water depth in the largest tributary into the bay (Yarra River) was high, the total distance travelled, maximum distance travelled, distance to core-range, and size of core- and home-ranges of penguins increased significantly. This larger foraging range was associated with broad dietary diversity and high reproductive success. These results suggest the increased foraging range and dietary diversity of penguins were a means to maximize resource acquisition rather than a strategy to overcome local depletions in prey. Our results demonstrate the significance of the Yarra River in structuring predator-prey interactions in this enclosed bay, as well as the flexible foraging strategies of penguins in response to environmental variability. This plasticity is central to the survival of this small-ranging, resident seabird species.
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23
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Kowalczyk ND, Chiaradia A, Preston TJ, Reina RD. Fine-scale dietary changes between the breeding and non-breeding diet of a resident seabird. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2015; 2:140291. [PMID: 26064628 PMCID: PMC4448858 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.140291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Unlike migratory seabirds with wide foraging ranges, resident seabirds forage in a relatively small range year-round and are thus particularly vulnerable to local shifts in prey availability. In order to manage their populations effectively, it is necessary to identify their key prey across and within years. Here, stomach content and stable isotope analyses were used to reconstruct the diet and isotopic niche of the little penguin (Eudyptula minor). Across years, the diet of penguins was dominated by anchovy (Engraulis australis). Within years, during winter, penguins were consistently enriched in δ (15)N and δ (13)C levels relative to pre-moult penguins. This was probably due to their increased reliance on juvenile anchovies, which dominate prey biomass in winter months. Following winter and during breeding, the δ (13)C values of penguins declined. We suggest this subtle shift was in response to the increased consumption of prey that enter the bay from offshore regions to spawn. Our findings highlight that penguins have access to both juvenile fish communities and spawning migrants across the year, enabling these seabirds to remain in close proximity to their colony. However, annual fluctuations in penguin isotopic niche suggest that the recruitment success and abundance of fish communities fluctuate dramatically between years. As such, the continued monitoring of penguin diet will be central to their ongoing management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole D. Kowalczyk
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - André Chiaradia
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Research Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, PO Box 97, Cowes, Victoria 3922, Australia
| | - Tiana J. Preston
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Richard D. Reina
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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