Individual variation in foraging behaviour and reproductive performance of seabirds

• Takahashi Akinori

  National Institute of Polar Research

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

• 魚食性鳥類における採食生態の個体変異　　海鳥類における採餌行動と繁殖成績の個体変異
• カイチョウルイ ニ オケル サイジ コウドウ ト ハンショク セイセキ ノ コタイ ヘンイ

Abstract

Seabirds usually rely on food resources that are distant from their breeding colony, yet they have to return to the colony regularly for breeding. Due to this basic constraint on foraging and reproduction, the individual variation in foraging ecology of seabird parents, such as diet choice, foraging effort or efficiency, may have profound consequences in their reproductive performance. Studies examining the link between seabird foraging and reproduction at the individual level are briefly reviewed in this paper. The diets of individual seabirds have been examined by using conventional food/pellet sampling or direct observation techniques, but also recently by using stable-isotope analysis. Individuals feeding more on energy-rich prey tend to have higher reproductive output although studies have been conducted mostly on gulls and further work is required on other groups of seabirds. The behaviour of individual seabirds foraging at sea has been studied recently by using animal-borne electronic devices, such as time-depth recorders or satellite/ VHF telemetry. Recent studies have quantified individual variation in the foraging effort of two species of penguins and found no effects of foraging effort on the growth rate of chicks, suggesting the importance of individual variation in foraging efficiency for reproductive success. Studies on both diet and behaviour of individual seabirds suggest that foraging efficiency, rather than foraging effort, is the key to high reproductive performance of individual seabirds. Sources of individual variation in foraging efficiency may include differences in morphology, learning histories or competition with other individuals. Further studies on foraging ecology of individual seabirds in relation to their energy allocation and reproductive performance will make it possible to explore the connection between foraging and life-history strategies of seabirds.

Journal

• Japanese Journal of Ornithology

  Japanese Journal of Ornithology 53 (1), 22-35, 2004

  The Ornithological Society of Japan

Keywords

• Foraging behaviour
• Foraging efficiency
• Individual variation
• Reproduction
• Seabirds

Details

• CRID: 1390001204481361152
• NII Article ID: 10017456651
• NII Book ID: AN10314294
• DOI: 10.3838/jjo.53.22
• ISSN: 18819710
• ISSN: 0913400X
• NDL BIB ID: 7090379
• Web Site: https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/books/R000000004-I7090379
• Text Lang: ja
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • NDL
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed