A distance-dependent estimation of foraging ranges of neighbouring bird colonies

2005 ◽  
Vol 182 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erwin Nemeth ◽  
Peter Bossew ◽  
Christoph Plutzar
Keyword(s):  
Bird Colonies ◽  
Foraging Ranges

scholarly journals Landscape structure affects the sunflower visiting frequency of insect pollinators

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Károly Lajos ◽  
Ferenc Samu ◽  
Áron Domonkos Bihaly ◽  
Dávid Fülöp ◽  
Miklós Sárospataki
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Structure ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Edge Density ◽  
Wild Bees ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Mass Flowering ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Pollinator Community ◽  
Foraging Ranges

AbstractMass-flowering crop monocultures, like sunflower, cannot harbour a permanent pollinator community. Their pollination is best secured if both managed honey bees and wild pollinators are present in the agricultural landscape. Semi-natural habitats are known to be the main foraging and nesting areas of wild pollinators, thus benefiting their populations, whereas crops flowering simultaneously may competitively dilute pollinator densities. In our study we asked how landscape structure affects major pollinator groups’ visiting frequency on 36 focal sunflower fields, hypothesising that herbaceous semi-natural (hSNH) and sunflower patches in the landscape neighbourhood will have a scale-dependent effect. We found that an increasing area and/or dispersion of hSNH areas enhanced the visitation of all pollinator groups. These positive effects were scale-dependent and corresponded well with the foraging ranges of the observed bee pollinators. In contrast, an increasing edge density of neighbouring sunflower fields resulted in considerably lower visiting frequencies of wild bees. Our results clearly indicate that the pollination of sunflower is dependent on the composition and configuration of the agricultural landscape. We conclude that an optimization of the pollination can be achieved if sufficient amount of hSNH areas with good dispersion are provided and mass flowering crops do not over-dominate the agricultural landscape.

Predation on marine-phase Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) by gannets (Morus bassanus) in the Northwest Atlantic

2002 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 602-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
W A Montevecchi ◽  
D K Cairns ◽  
R A Myers
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Salmon ◽  
Salmo Salar ◽  
Labrador Sea ◽  
Atlantic Salmon Salmo Salar ◽  
Limited Sampling ◽  
Large Colony ◽  
Pelagic Food Webs ◽  
Migratory Routes ◽  
Pass Through ◽  
Foraging Ranges

Predation on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) has been recorded in rivers and estuaries, but there is little documentation of predation at sea. Prey landed by gannets (Morus bassanus) over 24 years in a large colony off northeast Newfoundland included small proportions of post-smolt Atlantic salmon. Before 1990, when shifts in oceanographic conditions and pelagic food webs occurred in the Labrador Sea, post-smolts, on average, made up 0.29% of estimated intake by gannets during August 1977–1989. In contrast, during the 1990s, this estimate increased to 2.53%, peaking at 6.37% in 1993. Model estimates with wide error margins projected that gannets consumed a mean of 1.6 t and 19.2 t of post-smolts during August 1977–1989 and 1990–2000, respectively, making up 0.22% and 2.70% of estimated North American post-smolt biomass during these periods. The migratory routes of post-smolt Atlantic salmon pass through the foraging ranges of gannet colonies, but limited sampling at colonies other than Funk has not revealed salmon in gannet diets. Sampling seabird diets is an economic, biological means of investigating the ecology and natural mortality of Atlantic salmon. Spatial and temporal expansion of this sampling would enhance its oceanographic context and reduce uncertainty associated with estimates of predation by seabirds.

How Important Are Bird Colonies as Information Centers?

The Auk ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Range D. Bayer
Keyword(s):  
Bird Colonies

scholarly journals The Brazilian research contribution to knowledge of the plant communities from Antarctic ice free areas

2013 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 923-935 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANTONIO B. PEREIRA ◽  
JAIR PUTZKE
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Soil Microbial Communities ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Plant Biology ◽  
Biotechnological Applications ◽  
King George Island ◽  
Plant Taxonomy ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Bird Colonies ◽  
Elephant Island

This work aims to summarize the results of research carried out by Brazilian researchers on the plant communities of Antarctic ice free areas during the last twenty five years. Since 1988 field work has been carried out in Elephant Island, King George Island, Nelson Island and Deception Island. During this period six papers were published on the chemistry of lichens, seven papers on plant taxonomy, five papers on plant biology, two studies on UVB photoprotection, three studies about the relationships between plant communities and bird colonies and eleven papers on plant communities from ice free areas. At the present, Brazilian botanists are researching the plant communities of Antarctic ice free areas in order to understand their relationships to soil microbial communities, the biodiversity, the distribution of the plants populations and their relationship with birds colonies. In addition to these activities, a group of Brazilian researchers are undertaking studies related to Antarctic plant genetic diversity, plant chemistry and their biotechnological applications.

Seabird foraging ranges as a preliminary tool for identifying candidate Marine Protected Areas

2012 ◽  
Vol 156 ◽  
pp. 53-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris B. Thaxter ◽  
Ben Lascelles ◽  
Kate Sugar ◽  
Aonghais S.C.P. Cook ◽  
Staffan Roos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Foraging Ranges

scholarly journals Cormorant pellets as a tool for the knowledge of parasite-intermediate host associations and nematode diversity in the environment

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 296-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Garbin ◽  
J. I. Diaz ◽  
A. Morgenthaler ◽  
A. Millones ◽  
L. Kuba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prey Item ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Paratenic Host ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Good Tool ◽  
Larval Stages ◽  
Nematode Diversity ◽  
Bird Colonies ◽  
Prey Items ◽  
Host Associations

SummaryAnisakids are usually acquired through the diet. Cormorant pellets are useful to detect both parasite larval stages, and prey items which could act as intermediate hosts in the environment. The current study provides information about the feeding habits of both birds and mammals, and the diversity of parasites circulating in the environment. The objective of the study was to identify Anisakidae larvae and prey items in pellets from the Imperial shag Phalacrocorax atriceps and the Red-legged cormorant P. gaimardi, suggesting possible parasite–prey associations. A total of 92 P. atriceps’ and 82 P. gaimardi’s pellets were collected from both Punta León, and Isla Elena bird colonies, respectively, during the period from 2006 to 2010. Pellets were preserved in ethanol and hard prey item remnants, and nematode larvae were studied using standard techniques. Prey item occurrence, nematode prevalence, and mean intensity were calculated. A correspondence analysis was performed to evaluate the larvae-prey association. Contracaecum spp., Pseudoterranova spp,, Anisakis spp., Terranova spp., and Hysterothylacium spp. third-stage larvae (L3) were identifi ed in pellets. Pseudoterranova spp. and Anisakis spp. L3 predominated in the environment of Punta León, whereas Contracaecum spp. and Hysterothylacium spp. L3 predominated in the Puerto Deseado area. The highest larvae-prey association was that of Contracaecum spp. L3 with Engraulis anchoita, followed by with Odontestes sp. in P. atriceps’ pellets. Contracaecum spp. L3 were significantly related to both sprats, Sprattus fueguensis and Ramnogaster arcuatta, in P. gaimardi’s pellets. It was verifi ed that E. anchovy is the main gateway of Contracaecum spp. L3 in P. atriceps. Odonthestes sp. might act as an intermediate/paratenic host of Contracaecum spp. L3 in the area. Both sprats might play a role as intermediate/paratenic hosts of C. australe, being the main gateway into P. gaimardi in the area. Thus, pellet analysis can be postulated as a good tool for indicating parasite-host associations between anisakids, and the prey items which act as intermediate hosts.

Biscayne National Park colonial nesting birds monitoring protocol—Version 1.1

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Muxo ◽  
Kevin Whelan ◽  
Raul Urgelles ◽  
Joaquin Alonso ◽  
Judd Patterson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
National Park Service ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Colonial Nesting ◽  
Wading Bird ◽  
Park Service ◽  
Biscayne National Park ◽  
Bird Colonies

Breeding colonies of wading birds (orders Ciconiiformes, Pelecaniformes) and seabirds (orders Suliformes, Pelecaniformes) serve as important indicators of aquatic ecosystem health, as they respond to changes in food abundance and quality, contaminants, invasive species, and disturbance. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, Restoration Coordination & Verification program (CERP-RECOVER) has identified wading-bird colonies as an important ecosystem restoration indicator. The National Park Service South Florida/Caribbean Inventory & Monitoring Network (SFCN) ranked colonial nesting birds eighth out of 44 vital signs of park natural resource conditions for ecological significance and feasibility. However, while large-scale monitoring efforts are occurring in the rest of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, only minimal historic data collection and no extensive ongoing monitoring of wading bird and seabird nesting have occurred in Biscayne National Park. Consequently, due to their high importance as biological indicators and because they are a gap occurring in regional monitoring efforts, the network has initiated a monitoring program of colonial nesting birds in Biscayne National Park. This protocol provides the rationale, approach, and detailed Standard Operating Procedures for annual colonial bird monitoring within and close to Biscayne National Park and conforms to the Oakley et al. (2003) guidelines for National Park Service long-term monitoring protocols. The specific objectives of this monitoring program are to determine status and long-term trends in: Numbers and locations of active colonies of colonial nesting birds with a special focus on Double-crested Cormorants, Great Egrets, Great White Herons, Great Blue Herons, White Ibises, and Roseate Spoonbills. Annual peak active nest counts of colonial nesting birds in Biscayne National Park with a special focus on the species mentioned above. An annual nesting index (i.e., sum of monthly nest counts) with a special focus on the species mentioned above. Timing of peak nest counts for the focal species.

The summer foraging ranges of adult spectacled petrels Procellaria conspicillata

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim A. Reid ◽  
Robert A. Ronconi ◽  
Richard J. Cuthbert ◽  
Peter G. Ryan
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
South Atlantic ◽  
Breeding Birds ◽  
Shelf Break ◽  
Fishing Activity ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Satellite Transmitters ◽  
Longline Fisheries ◽  
Central South ◽  
Foraging Ranges

AbstractSatellite transmitters were attached to eight adult spectacled petrels Procellaria conspicillata Gould captured during the early incubation period at their breeding grounds on Inaccessible Island, one of the Tristan da Cunha Islands in the central South Atlantic Ocean. Data on their at-sea distribution was obtained for up to six months. All birds remained within the South Atlantic from 24–44°S, with most between 25 and 40°S. Breeding birds mainly foraged in oceanic waters, but failed breeders or non-breeders concentrated their foraging activity over the Rio Grande Rise and the Walvis Ridge and along the shelf break off the east coast of South America. Little foraging occurred along the Benguela shelf break off southern Africa. Non-breeders favoured relatively warm water with low chlorophyll concentrations, reducing the risk of bycatch in fisheries. Tracked birds spent 16% of their time in areas with high levels of tuna longline fishing activity, with overlap greater for non-breeding birds (22%) than breeding birds (3%). Birds in this study foraged in shallower waters along the continental shelf edge off South America than spectacled petrels tracked in this area in winter, potentially increasing their risk of exposure to demersal longline fisheries in this area in summer.

Survey of algae and other terrestrial biota at Edward VII Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land

1989 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul A. Broady
Keyword(s):  
Testate Amoebae ◽  
Aquatic Habitats ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Algal Communities ◽  
Continental Antarctica ◽  
Prasiola Crispa ◽  
Bird Colonies ◽  
First Time ◽  
Ciliate Protozoa ◽  
Stichococcus Bacillaris

The survey concentrated on algal communities but also gathered information on mosses, lichens and microfauna. All 23 nunataks in the Rockefeller and Alexandra mountains (77°00′–78°30′S, 152°–154°W) were visited, including ones both with and without nutrient enrichment from bird colonies. Over 30 species of algae were recorded with Cyanobacteria and Chlorophyta dominant as in other regions of continental Antarctica. Diatoms were not found. The most frequent algae were Cyanothece aeruginosa, Gloeocapsa spp., Oscillatoriaceae, Nostoc sp., Pseudococcomyxa simplex, Stichococcus bacillaris, cf. Desmococcus vulgaris, Prasiola crispa and Prasiococcus calcarius. Although lichens were the most visually prominent vegetation, free-living algae occurred in the widespread ‘non-aquatic’ habitats as epilithic, chasmoendolithic and edaphic communities as well as being epiphytic on the sparse moss cushions. Aquatic habitats were few and there were only three small ponds on or adjacent to nunataks. On ablating ice, cryoconite ponds contained Homoeothrix cf. rivularis, recorded for the first time in Antarctica. Preliminary identifications show 23 species of lichens and six species of mosses. No mites and collembola were seen. Samples contained testate amoebae, ciliate protozoa, rotifers and tardigrades but no nematodes.

scholarly journals Fine-scale dietary changes between the breeding and non-breeding diet of a resident seabird

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 140291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole D. Kowalczyk ◽  
André Chiaradia ◽  
Tiana J. Preston ◽  
Richard D. Reina
Keyword(s):  
Prey Availability ◽  
Juvenile Fish ◽  
Fish Communities ◽  
Small Range ◽  
Isotopic Niche ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Isotope Analyses ◽  
Little Penguin ◽  
Foraging Ranges

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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