Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Foraging by experienced and inexperienced Cory’s shearwater along a 3-year period of ameliorating foraging conditions

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Experience is believed to be an important factor determining the foraging success of animals, but there is limited knowledge on how foraging tactics differ among individuals, and on how individuals develop efficient foraging strategies. Pelagic seabirds are some of the longest living organisms, and in several species, breeding is deferred far beyond their physical maturity. The complex foraging skills needed to successfully rear a young is considered the most likely explanation for this life trait, making seabirds particularly interesting for the investigation of how foraging skills differ and develop through their life span. In our study, the spatial distribution and foraging tactics of experienced and inexperienced males of a Procellariiform seabird species, the Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris borealis) breeding on the Portuguese continental shelf, were compared along three consecutive breeding seasons with ameliorating environmental conditions (from 2010 towards 2012). Kernel overlaps of foraging areas and habitat modelling demonstrated that while experienced males showed high fidelity to shallow feeding grounds, inexperienced birds were more explorative and relied more on less-productive pelagic areas. Our results seem to support the prediction that differences between experienced and inexperienced individuals are enhanced by food scarcity. In fact, there was a higher spatial, trophic and behavioural segregation between both groups when environmental conditions were poor, which progressively diminished with improving environmental conditions. Still, we cannot rule out the fact that inexperienced birds might be gaining experience with each breeding season and thus honing their foraging skills towards those of experienced individuals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Afán I, Navarro J, Cardador L, Ramírez F, Kato A, Rodríguez B, Ropert-Coudert Y, Forero MG (2014) Foraging movements and habitat niche of two closely related seabirds breeding in sympatry. Mar Biol 161:657–668

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Åkesson S, Weimerskirch H (2014) Evidence for sex-segregated ocean distributions first-winter wandering albatrosses at Crozet Islands. PLoS One 9(2):e86779

  • Ashmole NP (1963) The regulation of numbers of tropical oceanic birds. Ibis 103b:458–473

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bearhop S, Phillips R, McGill R, Cherel Y, Dawson D, Croxall J (2006) Stable isotopes indicate sex-specific and long-term individual foraging specialisation in diving seabirds. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 311:157–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bicknell A, Oro D, Camphuysen K (2013) Potential consequences of discard reform for seabird communities. J Appl Ecol 50:649–658

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bunce A, Ward SJ, Norman FI (2005) Are age-related variations in breeding performance greatest when food availability is limited? J Zool 266:163–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calenge C (2006) The package “adehabitat” for the R software: a tool for the analysis of space and habitat use by animals. Ecol Model 197:516–519

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calenge C, Darmon G, Basille M, Loison A, Jullien J-M (2008) The factorial decomposition of the Mahalanobis distances in habitat selection studies. Ecology 89:555–566

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ceia FR, Phillips RA, Ramos JA, Cherel Y, Vieira RP, Richard P, Xavier JC (2012) Short- and long-term consistency in the foraging niche of wandering albatrosses. Mar Biol 159:1581–1591

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ceia FR, Paiva VH, Fidalgo V, Morais L, Beata A, Crisóstomo P, Mourato E, Garthe S, Marques JC, Ramos JA (2014) Annual and seasonal consistency in the feeding ecology of an opportunistic species, the yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis). Mar Ecol Prog Ser 497:273–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cherel Y, Hobson KA, Hassani S (2005a) Isotopic discrimination between food and blood and feathers of captive penguins: implications for dietary studies in the wild. Physiol Biochem Zool 78:106–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cherel Y, Hobson KA, Weimerskirch H (2005b) Using stable isotopes to study resource acquisition and allocation in procellariform seabirds. Oecologia 145:533–540

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clutton-Brock TH, Stevenson IR, Marrow P, MacColl AD, Houston AI, McNamara JM (1996) Population fluctuations, reproductive costs and life-history tactics in female Soay sheep. J Anim Ecol 65:675–689

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curio E (1983) Why do young birds reproduce less well? Ibis 125:400–404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daunt F, Wanless S, Harris MP, Money L, Monaghan P (2007) Older and wiser: improvements in breeding success are linked to better foraging performance in European shags. Funct Ecol 21:561–567

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forslund P, Pärt T (1995) Age and reproduction in birds—hypotheses and tests. Trends Ecol Evol 10:364–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaillard JM, Yoccoz NG (2003) Temporal variation in survival of mammals: a case of environmental canalization? Ecology 84:3294–3306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Granadeiro JP (1993) Variation in measurements of Cory’s shearwater between populations and sexing by discriminant analysis. Ring Migr 14:103–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grémillet D, Omo GD, Ryan PG, Peters G, Ropert-Coudert Y, Weeks SJ (2004) Offshore diplomacy, or how seabirds mitigate intra-specific competition : a case study based on GPS tracking of Cape gannets from neighbouring colonies. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 268:265–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guilford TC, Meade J, Freeman R, Biro D, Evans T, Bonadonna F, Boyle D, Roberts S, Perrins CM (2008) GPS tracking of the foraging movements of Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus breeding on Skomer Island, Wales. Ibis 150:462–473

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutowsky SE, Tremblay Y, Kappes MA, Flint EN, Klavitter J, Laniawe L, Shaffer SA (2014) Divergent post-breeding distribution and habitat associations of fledgling and adult Black-footed Albatrosses Phoebastria nigripes in the North Pacific. Ibis 156:60–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hurrell JW (1995) Decadal trends in the North Atlantic Oscillation: regional temperatures and precipitation. Science 269:676–679

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Igual JM, Forero MG, Tavecchia G, González-Solís J et al (2005) Short-term effects of data-loggers on Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris diomedea). Mar Biol 146:619–624

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inger R, Bearhop S (2008) Applications of stable isotope analyses to avian ecology. Ibis 150:447–461

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson AL, Inger R, Parnell AC, Bearhop S (2011) Comparing isotopic niche widths among and within communities: SIBER—Stable Isotope Bayesian Ellipses in R. J Anim Ecol 80:595–602

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laaksonen T, Korpimäki E, Hakkarainen H (2002) Interactive effects of parental age and environmental variation on the breeding performance of Tengmalm’s owl. J Anim Ecol 71:23–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Vaillant M, Le Bohec C, Prud’Homme O, Wienecke B, Le Maho Y, Kato A, Ropert-Coudert Y (2013) How age and sex drive the foraging behaviour in the king penguin. Mar Biol 160:1147–1156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lecoq M, Catry P, Granadeiro JP (2011) Population trends of Cory’s shearwaters Calonectris diomedea borealis breeding at Berlengas Islands, Portugal. Airo 20:36–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Louzao M, Hyrenbach KD, Abelló P, de Sola LG, Oro D (2006) Oceanographic habitat of an endangered Mediterranean procellariform: implications for marine protected areas. Ecol Appl 16:1683–1695

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Louzao M, Delord K, García D, Boué A, Weimerskirch H (2012) Protecting persistent dynamic oceanographic features: transboundary conservation efforts are needed for the critically endangered balearic shearwater. PLoS One 7:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacLean AAE (1986) Age-specific foraging ability and the evolution of deferred breeding in three species of gulls. Wilson Bull 98:267–279

    Google Scholar 

  • Mougin J-L, Jouanin C, Roux F (2000) Démographie du puffin cendré Calonectris diomedea de Selvagem Grande. Rev Ecol (Terre Vie) 55:275–290

    Google Scholar 

  • Navarro J, Oro D, Bertolero A, Genovart M, Delgado A, Forero MG (2010) Age and sexual differences in the exploitation of two anthropogenic food resources for an opportunistic seabird. Mar Biol 157:2453–2459

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nevoux M, Weimerskirch H, Barbraud C (2007) Environmental variation and experience-related differences in the demography of the long-lived black-browed albatross. J Anim Ecol 76:159–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nol E, Smith JNM (1987) Effects of age and breeding experience on seasonal reproductive success in the song sparrow. J Anim Ecol 56:301–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osborn TJ (2011) Winter 2009/2010 temperatures and a record-breaking North Atlantic Oscillation index. Weather 66:19–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paiva VH, Geraldes P, Ramírez I, Garthe S, Ramos JA (2010a) How area restricted search of a pelagic seabird changes while performing a dual foraging strategy. Oikos 119:1423–1434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paiva VH, Geraldes P, Ramírez I, Meirinho A, Garthe S, Ramos JA (2010b) Oceanographic characteristics of areas used by Cory’s shearwaters during short and long foraging trips in the North Atlantic. Mar Biol 157:1385–1399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paiva VH, Xavier JC, Geraldes P, Ramírez I, Garthe S, Ramos JA (2010c) Foraging ecology of Cory’s shearwaters in different oceanic environments of the North Atlantic. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 410:257–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paiva VH, Geraldes P, Ramírez I, Werner AC, Garthe S, Ramos JA (2013a) Overcoming difficult times: the behavioural resilience of a marine predator when facing environmental stochasticity. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 486:277–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paiva VH, Geraldes P, Marques V, Rodrígues R, Garthe S, Ramos JA (2013b) Environmental variability affecting the distribution and abundance of different trophic levels of the North Atlantic food web. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 477:15–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pardo D, Barbraud C, Authier M, Weimerskirch H (2013) Evidence for an age-dependent influence of environmental variations on a long-lived seabird’s life-history traits. Ecology 94:208–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parnell AC, Inger R, Bearhop S, Jackson AL (2010) Source partitioning using stable isotopes: coping with too much variation. PLoS One 5:e9672

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pärt T (2001) The effects of territory quality on age-dependent reproductive performance in the northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe. Anim Behav 62:379–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Péron C, Grémillet D (2013) Tracking through life stages: adult, immature and juvenile autumn migration in a long-lived seabird. PLoS One 8:e72713

  • Phillips RA, Xavier JC, Croxall JP (2003) Effects of satellite transmitters on albatrosses and petrels. Auk 120:1082–1090

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips RA, Bearhop S, McGill RAR, Dawson DA (2009) Stable isotopes reveal individual variation in migration strategies and habitat preferences in a suite of seabirds during the nonbreeding period. Oecologia 160:795–806

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pütz K, Cherel Y (2005) The diving behaviour of brooding king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) from the Falkland Islands: variation in dive profiles and synchronous underwater swimming provide new insights into their foraging strategies. Mar Biol 147:281–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riotte-Lambert L, Weimerskirch H (2013) Do naive juvenile seabirds forage differently from adults? Proc R Soc B 280:20131434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts JJ, Best BD, Dunn DC, Treml EA, Halpin PN (2010) Marine geospatial ecology tools: an integrated framework for ecological geoprocessing with ArcGIS, Python, R, MATLAB, and C++. Environ Model Soft 25:1197–1207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santos AMP, Chícharo A, Dos Santos A, Moita T, Oliveira PB, Peliz Á, Ré P (2007) Physical–biological interactions in the life history of small pelagic fish in the Western Iberia Upwelling Ecosystem. Prog Oceanogr 74:192–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith JNM (1981) Does high fecundity reduce survival in song sparrows? Evolution 35:1142–1148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steiner I, Bürgi C, Werffeli S, Dell’Omo G, Valenti P, Tröster G, Wolfer DP, Lipp H-P (2000) A GPS logger and software for analysis of homing in pigeons and small mammals. Physiol Behav 71:589–596

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stenseth NC, Ottersen G, Hurrell JW, Mysterud A et al (2003) Studying climate effects on ecology through the use of climate indices: the North Atlantic Oscillation, El Niño Southern Oscillation and beyond. Proc R Soc B 270:2087–2096

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suryan R, Santora J, Sydeman W (2012) New approach for using remotely sensed chlorophyll a to identify seabird hotspots. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 451:213–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sydeman WJ, Penniman JF, Penniman TM, Pyle P, Ainley DG (1991) Breeding performance in the Western gull—effects of parental age, timing of breeding and year in relation to food availability. J Anim Ecol 60:135–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R Core Team (2011) R: a language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. http://www.R-project.org/

  • Thiebot JB, Lescroël A, Pinaud D, Trathan PN, Bost C-A (2011) Larger foraging range but similar habitat selection in non-breeding versus breeding sub-Antarctic penguins. Antarct Sci 23:117–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsoar A, Allouche O, Steinitz O, Rotem D, Kadmon R (2007) A comparative evaluation of presence-only methods for modelling species distribution. Divers Distrib 13:397–405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Votier SC, Grecian WJ, Patrick S, Newton J (2011) Inter-colony movements, at-sea behaviour and foraging in an immature seabird: results from GPS-PPT tracking, radio-tracking and stable isotope analysis. Mar Biol 158:355–362

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Warham J (1990) The petrels: their ecology and breeding systems. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Weimerskirch H (1992) Reproductive effort in long-lived birds: age-specific patterns of condition, reproduction and survival in the wandering albatross. Oikos 64:464–473

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weimerskirch H, Gault A, Cherel Y (2005) Prey distribution and patchiness: factors in foraging success and efficiency of Wandering Albatrosses. Ecology 86:2611–2622

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Werner AC, Paiva VH, Ramos JA (2014) On the “real estate market”, individual quality and the foraging ecology of male Cory’s shearwaters. Auk 131:265–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams GC (1966) Natural selection, the costs of reproduction, and a refinement of Lack’s principle. Am Nat 100:687

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Worton BJ (1989) Kernel methods for estimating the utilization distribution in home-range studies. Ecology 70:164–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmer I, Ropert-Coudert Y, Kato A, Ancel A, Chiaradia A (2011) Does foraging performance change with age in female little penguins (Eudyptula minor)? PLoS One 6(1):e16098

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e Florestas (ICNF) for their logistical support (lodging), especially the wardens of the Reserva Natural das Berlengas, Paulo Crisóstomo and Eduardo Mourato, for their companionship. Also a special thanks to Filipe Ceia and Margarida Soares for their help during fieldwork. GPS loggers were financed by the EU INTERREG project FAME: The Future of the Atlantic Marine Environment. F.D.H. acknowledges the study grant given by the EMMC-EMAE consortium and the European Commission. V.H.P. acknowledges the postdoctoral grants given by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT; SFRH/BPD/63825/2009 and SFRH/BPD/85024/2012). The experimental approach was conducted with permission from the Portuguese Government (ICNF). All methods used in this study comply with the current laws of Portugal.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Fredrik D. Haug, Vítor H. Paiva, Antje C. Werner & Jaime A. Ramos

  2. Departamento de Ornitología, Museo de Historia Natural “Javier Prado”, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Av. Arenales 1256 Jesús María, Apartado 14-0434, Lima 14, Peru

    Antje C. Werner

Authors
  1. Fredrik D. Haug
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vítor H. Paiva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Antje C. Werner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jaime A. Ramos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vítor H. Paiva.

Additional information

Communicated by S. Garthe.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Haug, F.D., Paiva, V.H., Werner, A.C. et al. Foraging by experienced and inexperienced Cory’s shearwater along a 3-year period of ameliorating foraging conditions. Mar Biol 162, 649–660 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-015-2612-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-015-2612-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation