Meso-scale variations in diet composition of little auk chicks in north-west Spitsbergen
Colonial seabirds from neighbouring breeding aggregations may share foraging grounds or utilize different areas in order to decrease the competition over food resources. In our study, we present the meso-scale variations in the diet composition of zooplanktivorous little auk chicks (Alle alle), base...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Norwegian Polar Institute
2017-01-01
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| Series: | Polar Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17518369.2017.1409585 |
| _version_ | 1818832077183778816 |
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| author | Rafał Boehnke Kaja Balazy Dariusz Jakubas Katarzyna Wojczulanis-Jakubas Katarzyna Błachowiak-Samołyk |
| author_facet | Rafał Boehnke Kaja Balazy Dariusz Jakubas Katarzyna Wojczulanis-Jakubas Katarzyna Błachowiak-Samołyk |
| author_sort | Rafał Boehnke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Colonial seabirds from neighbouring breeding aggregations may share foraging grounds or utilize different areas in order to decrease the competition over food resources. In our study, we present the meso-scale variations in the diet composition of zooplanktivorous little auk chicks (Alle alle), based on samples collected over two years in two neighbouring colonies (Aasefjellet and Magdalenefjorden) located in north-west Spitsbergen, Svalbard. Although the colonies are situated only 10 km apart, they differ in geographical features (in-fjord vs. coastal). The main findings of our study were significant inter-colony and inter-year differences in the total abundance of diet items and in abundance of particular components. The open-sea species Themisto abyssorum was more abundant in the diet of chicks from Aasefjellet, situated in the outer coast. Another open-sea species, Calanus hyperboreus was also characteristic for this colony but only in the first year of study. On the other hand, the ice-associated amphipod Apherusa glacialis was regularly observed in the diet of little auk chicks from the Magdalenefjorden colony, which is located closer to the marginal ice zone. The differences observed in the diet composition of birds from the two neighbouring sites may indicate that two colonies of birds have at least partly separate foraging areas. Our results could also suggest flexibility in the little auk’s foraging behaviour that enables it to adapt to local feeding conditions. Thus, our study significantly contributes to the deeper understanding of little auks’ feeding strategies in the changing environment of northern Spitsbergen. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T01:57:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-591acfadd32044199a826cf1e6425cc4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1751-8369 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T01:57:17Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | Norwegian Polar Institute |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polar Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-591acfadd32044199a826cf1e6425cc42022-12-21T20:41:09ZengNorwegian Polar InstitutePolar Research1751-83692017-01-0136110.1080/17518369.2017.14095851409585Meso-scale variations in diet composition of little auk chicks in north-west SpitsbergenRafał Boehnke0Kaja Balazy1Dariusz Jakubas2Katarzyna Wojczulanis-Jakubas3Katarzyna Błachowiak-Samołyk4Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of SciencesInstitute of Oceanology Polish Academy of SciencesUniversity of GdańskUniversity of GdańskInstitute of Oceanology Polish Academy of SciencesColonial seabirds from neighbouring breeding aggregations may share foraging grounds or utilize different areas in order to decrease the competition over food resources. In our study, we present the meso-scale variations in the diet composition of zooplanktivorous little auk chicks (Alle alle), based on samples collected over two years in two neighbouring colonies (Aasefjellet and Magdalenefjorden) located in north-west Spitsbergen, Svalbard. Although the colonies are situated only 10 km apart, they differ in geographical features (in-fjord vs. coastal). The main findings of our study were significant inter-colony and inter-year differences in the total abundance of diet items and in abundance of particular components. The open-sea species Themisto abyssorum was more abundant in the diet of chicks from Aasefjellet, situated in the outer coast. Another open-sea species, Calanus hyperboreus was also characteristic for this colony but only in the first year of study. On the other hand, the ice-associated amphipod Apherusa glacialis was regularly observed in the diet of little auk chicks from the Magdalenefjorden colony, which is located closer to the marginal ice zone. The differences observed in the diet composition of birds from the two neighbouring sites may indicate that two colonies of birds have at least partly separate foraging areas. Our results could also suggest flexibility in the little auk’s foraging behaviour that enables it to adapt to local feeding conditions. Thus, our study significantly contributes to the deeper understanding of little auks’ feeding strategies in the changing environment of northern Spitsbergen.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17518369.2017.1409585DovekieSvalbardcolonyzooplanktondiet compositionAlle alle |
| spellingShingle | Rafał Boehnke Kaja Balazy Dariusz Jakubas Katarzyna Wojczulanis-Jakubas Katarzyna Błachowiak-Samołyk Meso-scale variations in diet composition of little auk chicks in north-west Spitsbergen Polar Research Dovekie Svalbard colony zooplankton diet composition Alle alle |
| title | Meso-scale variations in diet composition of little auk chicks in north-west Spitsbergen |
| title_full | Meso-scale variations in diet composition of little auk chicks in north-west Spitsbergen |
| title_fullStr | Meso-scale variations in diet composition of little auk chicks in north-west Spitsbergen |
| title_full_unstemmed | Meso-scale variations in diet composition of little auk chicks in north-west Spitsbergen |
| title_short | Meso-scale variations in diet composition of little auk chicks in north-west Spitsbergen |
| title_sort | meso scale variations in diet composition of little auk chicks in north west spitsbergen |
| topic | Dovekie Svalbard colony zooplankton diet composition Alle alle |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17518369.2017.1409585 |
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