scholarly journals Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) predation on pikeperch (Sander lucioperca L.) in shallow eutrophic lakes in Poland

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Traczuk ◽  
Andrzej Kapusta
Keyword(s):  
Length Distribution ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Fish Populations ◽  
Great Cormorant ◽  
Phalacrocorax Carbo ◽  
Sander Lucioperca ◽  
Eutrophic Lakes ◽  
Breeding Colony ◽  
Great Cormorants

AbstractIncreases in the population abundance of the piscivorous great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) has led to conflicts with fisheries. Cormorants are blamed for decreased fish catches in many lakes in Poland. The aim of this paper is to describe to role of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) in the diet of cormorants nesting in a colony on the island in Lake Warnołty. Since the breeding colony is located in the vicinity of Lake OEniardwy, the largest lake in Poland, the cormorants use the resources in this lake. In 2009-2016, 18,432 regurgitated fish were collected, of which 593 were pikeperch. The share of pikeperch among fish collected in 2009-2012 did not exceed 2%, but from 2013 this increased substantially to maximum of 38.2% in 2015. The smallest pikeperch had a standard length of 8.4 cm, and the largest 42.5 cm. Pikeperch mean length differed by year, and the length distribution was close to normal. The sizes of the regurgitated pikeperch indicate that cormorants prey almost exclusively on juvenile specimens. The results of the present study indicate that cormorant predation has a significant impact on pikeperch populations in lakes in the vicinity of the colony, and the great cormorants are possibly a significant factor in the effectiveness of pikeperch management. When planning for the management of fish populations in lakes subjected to cormorant predation pressure, it should be borne in mind that predation by this piscivorous bird species impacts the abundance and size-age structure of fish populations.

scholarly journals Nesting of Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) on man-made structures in Ukraine

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. I. Sidorenko ◽  
V. D. Siokhin
Keyword(s):  
National Level ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Great Cormorant ◽  
Phalacrocorax Carbo ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Breeding Territory ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Maintenance Work ◽  
Great Cormorants

In Ukraine the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo Linnaeus, 1758) uses a rather wide range of habitats for nesting: islands, trees and shrubs, reedbeds and a variety of man-made structures. In general, the strategy of nesting on man-made structures is uncommon both in Ukraine and Europe, and Cormorantsdo this only in the absence of other sites suitable for nesting. Special research onCormorant colonies on technogenic constructions was carried out during the field expeditions by the Research Institute of Biodiversity of Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems of Ukraine in 2002–2003 and 2012–2016. Besides this, we used retrospective and current data from the literature and Internet resources. Most of the field work was carried out by making surveys by boat and on foot. As a result, we found 8 Cormorant colonies on technogenic constructions in Ukraine: gas platforms in the Sea of Azov (near the village Strilkove, Henichesk district of Kherson region); sunken ships – targets for bombing training near the Arabat Spit (these are also known as «ship islands»); electricity pylons of the high-voltage Enerhodar Dnipro Power Line where it crosses the Kakhovka Reservoir; the dock in Yahorlyk Bayk, used in the past as a target for bombing training bombing; artificial island-platforms on Lake Chernine (Kinburn Peninsula); an artificial island on the Sasyk Lagoon (Odessa region); artificial islands, made as navigation markers on the Kremenchuk and Kiev reservoirs. The study found that in most cases the accompanying species was the CaspianGull (Larus cachinnans Pallas, 1811), which actively destroys the Cormorants’ nests and eats their eggs and chicks. The number of nests in the colonies varied greatly (5–30 nests on the navigation marker islands and ca. 2 000–2 300 on the «ship-islands» and gas platforms). This is due, primarily, to the area of the breeding territory. The research found that fierce territorial competition was observed in most of the colonies both with Caspian Gulls and between Cormorants. In addition, we observed anthropogenic interference in the colonies by fishermen and workers conducting routine maintenance work (as happened in the case of electricity pylons and gas platforms). The benefit of this study is that it is the first research in Ukraine conducted at national level onthis type of nesting by Cormorants. Moreover, the study examines the history of emergence of these nesting territories and population dynamics of the Great Cormorant from the time of initial settlement of the breeding sites till the present.

scholarly journals Flock-fishing deep-diving piscivores (Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus, Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, Common Merganser Mergus merganser) at Lake Vombsjön, southern Sweden, and those that exploit them

Ornis Svecica ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Källander
Keyword(s):  
Great Cormorant ◽  
Southern Sweden ◽  
Phalacrocorax Carbo ◽  
Herring Gulls ◽  
Deep Diving ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Ardea Cinerea ◽  
Mergus Merganser ◽  
Podiceps Cristatus ◽  
Great Cormorants

Lake Vombsjön in southern Sweden is visited by large numbers of Great Crested Grebes Podiceps cristatus (>2000), Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo (sometimes >1000) and Common Mergansers Mergus merganser (up to 2000) in late autumn and early winter. Different species exploit them. Great Crested Grebes are used especially by commensal Common Gulls Larus canus; the gulls take advantage of fish that flee towards the surface. Common Gulls also use cormorants and mergansers in the same way but also try to kleptoparasitize them. Both Herring Gulls Larus argentatus and Great Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus kleptoparasitize these two species, while Red Kites Milvus milvus, Grey Herons Ardea cinerea and Carrion Crows Corvus corone use them commensally. White-tailed Eagles Haliaeetus albicilla seem to use both methods to obtain fish. On 50% of one hundred visits during November to March, eagles were seen flying low over the fishing flocks. They would fly a metre or so above the flocks and then accelerate and attack a bird holding a fish. The bird would then either try to escape by a rush or by diving, dropping the fish which the eagle seized. Interestingly, the flock-fishing birds showed no fear reactions towards the eagles but appeared to regard them similarly to large gulls.

Role of three bird species in the life cycle of two Sarcocystis species (Apicomplexa, Sarcocystidae) in the Czech Republic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ondřej Máca ◽  
David González
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Intestinal Mucosa ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Great Cormorant ◽  
Sarcocystis Species ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Leg Muscles ◽  
The Common ◽  
Milvus Milvus

Abstract BackgroundBirds are one of the groups involved in the development of Sarcocystis Lankester, 1882, serving either as intermediate or definitive hosts. The white-tailed sea eagle Haliaeetus albicilla (Linnaeus, 1758), red kite Milvus milvus (Linnaeus, 1758) (both Accipitriformes) and common starlings Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 (Passeriformes) were examined to elucidate their participation in the development of Sarcocystis, as well as to determine the specific identity of the parasites based on morphological and especially molecular analyses.MethodsIn 2020–2021, one white-tailed eagle, one red kite and five common starlings were parasitologically examined for the presence of Sarcocystis using flotation centrifugation coprological method and by wet mounts of intestinal mucosa scrapings and/or muscle samples. Positive samples were processed by light microscopy, histologically and followed molecularly at four genetic markers (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS1 and cox1).ResultsThe white-tailed eagle harboured oocysts/sporocysts of S. arctica Gjerde et Schulze, 2014 in the intestinal mucosa, while the intestinal mucosa of the red kite and breasts and leg muscles of one common starling were positive to S. halieti Gjerde, Vikøren et Hamnes, 2018. Sequences from eagle shared 99.6 − 100% identity with each other and S. arctica in the red fox (V. vulpes Linnaeus, 1758) from the Czech Republic. Sequences from the common starling and red kite shared 100% identity with each other and with S. halieti in the great cormorant (P. carbo [Linnaeus, 1758]) from Lithuania and H. albicilla from Norway.ConclusionsThe white-tailed sea eagle (H. albicilla) acts as natural definitive host of S. arctica, whereas the common starling (St. vulgaris) and red kite (M. milvus) represent intermediate and definitive hosts, respectively, for S. halieti.

scholarly journals Pathology associated with Contracaecum rudolphii (Nematoda: Anisakidae) infection in the great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (L. 1758)

2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Rokicki ◽  
Z. Sołtysiak ◽  
J. Dziekońska-Rynko ◽  
J. Borucińska
Keyword(s):  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Great Cormorant ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Secretory Product ◽  
Phalacrocorax Carbo ◽  
European Continent ◽  
Associated Lesions ◽  
Contracaecum Rudolphii ◽  
Gun Shot ◽  
Great Cormorants

AbstractThis is a report of lesions associated with the nematode Contracaecum rudolphii (Nematoda: Anisakidae) from the proventriculus of the great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo (L. 1758). The study was undertaken as part of a health monitoring program for P. carbo, which is endangered and thus protected within the European continent. Cormorants were collected by gun-shot from north-eastern Poland in the spring of 2006, four birds were necropsied on site and the gastrointestinal tract was examined for the presence of nematodes. The birds came from a region with noted increases in the cormorant population over the last decade. Esophageal and gastric sections with parasites in situ were fixed in formalin and processed routinely for paraffin embedding, stained with H&E and examined by brightfield microscopy. Parasite associated lesions consisted of severe, ulcerative gastritis at the attachment sites, and diffuse granulomatous gastritis in adjacent areas. Eosinophilic material speculated to be the parasite-derived excretory-secretory product was consistently forming the parasite-host boundry at the attachment points. Although the parasite-associated gastric lesions were focally severe, all examined birds appeared in good body condition. Because only four birds were investigated in this study, the potential contribution of C. rudolphii to morbidity and mortality in great cormorants needs to be examined further.

The occurrence of Cyathostoma (Cyathostoma) microspiculum (Skrjabin, ) (Nematoda: Syngamidae) in the great cormorant [Phalacrocorax carbo (L., 1758)] in north-eastern Poland

2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 391-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Kanarek
Keyword(s):  
Great Cormorant ◽  
Vistula Lagoon ◽  
Lake District ◽  
Phalacrocorax Carbo ◽  
Breeding Colony ◽  
Mean Intensity ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Age Dependent ◽  
Infection Parameters ◽  
The Vistula Lagoon

AbstractThe nematode Cyathostoma (Cyathostoma) microspiculum (Skrjabin, 1915) was found in 37 out of the 491 great cormorant [Phalacrocorax carbo (L.)] individuals from north-eastern Poland (the Vistula Spit, the Vistula Lagoon and the Masurian Lake District) that were examined. The nematode occurred at 7.5% prevalence, 3.6 mean intensity (1–16 intensity range) and 0.27 mean abundance. This is the first Polish record of C. microspiculum and the first properly documented record of the nematode in Europe. Significant age-dependent differences in prevalence and mean intensity were found; the heaviest infection (13.7%; 4) was found in immature birds, followed by that found in chicks (8.1%; 3.7) and mature individuals (4.4%; 3). No significant habitat-dependent differences in the infection parameters were found but, for chicks, the nematode was present exclusively in those found in the breeding colony located on the Vistula Spit. It may be related to their life cycle, probably associated with a marine environment. Morphology and biometry of the C. microspiculum individuals examined are described in detail. The results are compared with data in the literature. Syngamus hexadontus Chin, 1950 is recognized as an older synonym of C. microspiculum.

scholarly journals Recent data about the fish consumption of great Cormorant in the area of Hortobágy Fish Farm Co

2015 ◽  
pp. 75-80
Author(s):  
Norbert Tóth ◽  
Péter Gyüre ◽  
Péter Juhász ◽  
Lajos Juhász
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Fish Farm ◽  
Great Cormorant ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Phalacrocorax Carbo ◽  
Fish Stocks ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Preventive Methods ◽  
Near Future

The cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) is a bird species that nests sporadically but in colonies, besides larger fishponds and rivers in Hungary. The number of its individuals has been increasing during the last two decades. The species eats solely fish, therefore it can cause serious depredation of the fish stocks in fishponds of intensive system and after the freezing of the ponds, in larger rivers, which are not yet frozen. The aim of our research was to reveal the damages the birds can cause on the studied areas and the extent of the losses the Hortobágy Fish Farm Co. has to realize. Our studies were carried out between April 2012 and November 2014. During cleaning, the investigation of the craw contents of the birds and their biometric studies were conducted. The results revealed the diverse food base of the species. In the samples, we have determined 379 fish individuals; in 368 cases, the exact fish species were determined, too. Significant differences were found between the consumed fish species rations of the units (P=0.05% beside). We have also found significant difference in the fish consumptions of adult males and females. Under the ever harder fish production conditions, the presence and thus the permanent predation of the birds affect the fishermen. In favour of maintaining ecological balance as well as to hold the income of the fish farmers, elaboration of adequate protective and preventive methods will be needed in near future.

scholarly journals Fish consumption of the great cormorant in the area of Hortobágy Fish Farm

2014 ◽  
pp. 81-84
Author(s):  
Norbert Tóth ◽  
Péter Gyüre ◽  
Lajos Juhász
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Fish Farm ◽  
Great Cormorant ◽  
Phalacrocorax Carbo ◽  
Fish Stocks ◽  
Nature Preservation ◽  
Near Future ◽  
The Given ◽  
Intensive System

The cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) is a bird species that nests sporadically but in colonies, besides larger fishponds and rivers in Hungary. The number of its individuals has been increasing during the last two decades. The species eats solely fish, therefore it can cause serious depredation of the fish stocks in fishponds of intensive system and after the freezing of the ponds, in larger rivers, which are not yet frozen. The aim of our research is to reveal the damages the birds can cause on the studied areas and the extent of the losses the Hortobágy Fish Farm Co. has to realize. Our studies were carried out between April 2012 and November 2013. During cleaning, the investigation of the crop contents of the birds and their biometric studies were conducted. The results revealed the diverse nutrition base of the species. In the samples, we have determined 300 identified fish individuals; in 289 cases, the exact fish species were determined, too. Although statistical differences were found between the given pond unit and the consuming of the corresponding fish species (P=0.05% beside), this cannot be considered as absolutely certain. Our investigation is of considerable significance in terms of nature preservation and not least, it has substantial financial concerns too. Under the ever harder fish production conditions, the presence and thus the permanent nutrition of the bird affect the fishermen. In favour of the maintaining of the natural ecological balance and the income of the fishers, the elaboration of adequate protective and efficient preventive processes will be necessary in the near future.

scholarly journals Genetic diversity of Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo in the eastern Baltic region

Biologija ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalius Butkauskas ◽  
Kristina Chaika ◽  
Saulius Švažas ◽  
Gennady Grishanov ◽  
Algimantas Paulauskas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Haplotype Network ◽  
Great Cormorant ◽  
Baltic Region ◽  
Phalacrocorax Carbo ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Continental Part ◽  
Kaliningrad Region ◽  
Great Cormorants ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Eastern Baltic

A rapid expansion of the continental subspecies of the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) has been recorded in Europe since the 1980s. Evaluation of genetic variability of the  Great Cormorant using molecular markers is necessary for investigation of the mechanisms of formation of the newly established breeding populations in the  eastern Baltic region (in the Kaliningrad region of Russia and in Lithuania). The  samples for molecular investigation were collected in the largest breeding colonies of Great Cormorants located on the coast of the Curonian Lagoon of the Baltic Sea and in their smaller, later formed breeding colonies located in the continental part of Lithuania. After sequencing and alignment of partial fragments of mtDNA control region, 21 different haplotypes, including 8 new haplotypes never identified before, and 13 haplotypes described earlier were found. They were distributed with different frequency in different sampling sites. The haplotype network constructed using 342 bp D-loop sequences identified during the  current study and all available sequences of Great Cormorants deposited in GenBank by previous investigators revealed haplotypes attributed to subspecies P. c. sinensis being distinguished from haplotypes of subspecies P. c. carbo in the separate part of haplotype network. The newly described haplotypes did not form a phylogenetically uniform group indicating possible colonization of the Kaliningrad region and the continental part of Lithuania by individuals descending from the  largest breeding colonies spread at the  coast zone of the  Baltic Sea. A  high level of genetic population diversity in different breeding colonies recorded in the Kaliningrad region and in eastern Lithuania confirms the formation of a highly variable and well-adapted population of the Great Cormorant participating in the process of colonization of new breeding areas in the Baltic region.

scholarly journals The tapeworm Paradilepis scolecina (Rudolphi, 1819) (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea) invasion in Great Cormorant [Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis (Blumenbach, 1798)] from the breeding colony in Lake Selment Wielki (northern Poland)

2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Dziekońska-Rynko ◽  
E. Dzika
Keyword(s):  
Great Cormorant ◽  
Phalacrocorax Carbo ◽  
Breeding Colony ◽  
Northern Poland ◽  
Phalacrocorax Carbo Sinensis ◽  
Very High

AbstractThe intensity and extensity of infestation of cormorants (Phalacocorax carbo sinensis) from a colony in Lake Selment Wielki with the tapeworm Paradilepis scolecina (Rudolphi, 1819) was examined. The cormorants were shot in April, August and October 2006 and in August and September 2007. The extensity of infection in all the cormorants under study was very high — even reaching 100 %. The highest intensity of infestation was found in the birds shot in August — 4697 tapeworms per bird in 2006 and 2562 in 2007. The intensity of infestation in the birds which were shot in autumn was less than one-tenth of that found in the birds shot in summer. The lowest intensity of infestation was found in the spring of 2006 — 61 tapeworms per bird.

Reproduction du Grand Cormoran (Phalacrocorax carbo) et du Cormoran à aigrettes (P. auritus) aux îles de la Madeleine, Québec

1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 524-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Pilon ◽  
Jean Burton ◽  
Raymond McNeil
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Great Cormorant ◽  
Phalacrocorax Carbo ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Great Cormorants ◽  
La Madeleine

The Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and the Double-crested Cormorant (P. auritus) on the Magdalen Islands (Québec) nest in different types of habitat; all Great Cormorants nest on the ground either on cliff ledges or on the flat tops of rocky islands, while all Double-crested Cormorants nest in coniferous trees. No mixed colonies were seen in 1977 and 1978. Most Great Cormorants laid their eggs some 10 days before the Double-crested Cormorants. The mean clutch size was 4.4 for the Great Cormorant in 1978 and 3.2 and 3.6 for the Double-crested Cormorant in 1977 and 1978. The hatching success was similar for both species, 69.2% for the Great Cormorant in 1978 and 74.5 and 71.8% for the Double-crested Cormorant in 1977 and 1978. Great Cormorant chicks had a higher mortality rate mainly during their first 2 weeks of like. This resulted in a similar ratio of young fledged for both species of cormorant, about 2.0 fledglings per clutch for the Great Cormorant and 2.1 and 2.4 fledglings per clutch for the Double-crested Cormorant in 1977 and 1978. The greater mortality rate of young Great Cormorants reflects differences in nesting sites' conditions.

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