Behavioural flexibility in an Arctic seabird using two distinct marine habitats to survive the energetic constraints of winter
Abstract Background Homeothermic marine animals in Polar Regions face an energetic bottleneck in winter. The challenges of short days and cold temperatures are exacerbated for flying seabirds with small body size and limited fat stores. We use biologging approaches to examine how habitat, weather, a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Movement Ecology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-022-00344-3 |
| _version_ | 1797984775173046272 |
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| author | Allison Patterson H. Grant Gilchrist Gregory J. Robertson April Hedd David A. Fifield Kyle H. Elliott |
| author_facet | Allison Patterson H. Grant Gilchrist Gregory J. Robertson April Hedd David A. Fifield Kyle H. Elliott |
| author_sort | Allison Patterson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Homeothermic marine animals in Polar Regions face an energetic bottleneck in winter. The challenges of short days and cold temperatures are exacerbated for flying seabirds with small body size and limited fat stores. We use biologging approaches to examine how habitat, weather, and moon illumination influence behaviour and energetics of a marine bird species, thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia). Methods We used temperature-depth-light recorders to examine strategies murres use to survive winter in the Northwest Atlantic, where contrasting currents create two distinct marine habitats: cold (−0.1 ± 1.2 °C), shallower water along the Labrador Shelf and warmer (3.1 ± 0.3 °C), deep water in the Labrador Basin. Results In the cold shelf water, murres used a high-energy strategy, with more flying and less diving each day, resulting in high daily energy expenditure and also high apparent energy intake; this strategy was most evident in early winter when day lengths were shortest. By contrast, murres in warmer basin water employed a low-energy strategy, with less time flying and more time diving under low light conditions (nautical twilight and night). In warmer basin water, murres increased diving at night when the moon was more illuminated, likely taking advantage of diel vertically migrating prey. In warmer basin water, murres dove more at night and foraging efficiency increased under negative North Atlantic Oscillation (calmer ocean conditions). Conclusions The proximity of two distinct marine habitats in this region allows individuals from a single species to use dual (low-energy/high-energy) strategies to overcome winter energy bottlenecks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T07:06:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-76ab8d27ac714765af1c4b838e21db81 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2051-3933 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T07:06:56Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Movement Ecology |
| spelling | doaj.art-76ab8d27ac714765af1c4b838e21db812022-12-22T04:38:22ZengBMCMovement Ecology2051-39332022-11-0110111610.1186/s40462-022-00344-3Behavioural flexibility in an Arctic seabird using two distinct marine habitats to survive the energetic constraints of winterAllison Patterson0H. Grant Gilchrist1Gregory J. Robertson2April Hedd3David A. Fifield4Kyle H. Elliott5Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill UniversityEnvironment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research CentreWildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change CanadaWildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change CanadaWildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change CanadaDepartment of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill UniversityAbstract Background Homeothermic marine animals in Polar Regions face an energetic bottleneck in winter. The challenges of short days and cold temperatures are exacerbated for flying seabirds with small body size and limited fat stores. We use biologging approaches to examine how habitat, weather, and moon illumination influence behaviour and energetics of a marine bird species, thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia). Methods We used temperature-depth-light recorders to examine strategies murres use to survive winter in the Northwest Atlantic, where contrasting currents create two distinct marine habitats: cold (−0.1 ± 1.2 °C), shallower water along the Labrador Shelf and warmer (3.1 ± 0.3 °C), deep water in the Labrador Basin. Results In the cold shelf water, murres used a high-energy strategy, with more flying and less diving each day, resulting in high daily energy expenditure and also high apparent energy intake; this strategy was most evident in early winter when day lengths were shortest. By contrast, murres in warmer basin water employed a low-energy strategy, with less time flying and more time diving under low light conditions (nautical twilight and night). In warmer basin water, murres increased diving at night when the moon was more illuminated, likely taking advantage of diel vertically migrating prey. In warmer basin water, murres dove more at night and foraging efficiency increased under negative North Atlantic Oscillation (calmer ocean conditions). Conclusions The proximity of two distinct marine habitats in this region allows individuals from a single species to use dual (low-energy/high-energy) strategies to overcome winter energy bottlenecks.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-022-00344-3Non-breedingNocturnal foragingUria lomviaLabrador SeaDaily activity rateBiologging |
| spellingShingle | Allison Patterson H. Grant Gilchrist Gregory J. Robertson April Hedd David A. Fifield Kyle H. Elliott Behavioural flexibility in an Arctic seabird using two distinct marine habitats to survive the energetic constraints of winter Movement Ecology Non-breeding Nocturnal foraging Uria lomvia Labrador Sea Daily activity rate Biologging |
| title | Behavioural flexibility in an Arctic seabird using two distinct marine habitats to survive the energetic constraints of winter |
| title_full | Behavioural flexibility in an Arctic seabird using two distinct marine habitats to survive the energetic constraints of winter |
| title_fullStr | Behavioural flexibility in an Arctic seabird using two distinct marine habitats to survive the energetic constraints of winter |
| title_full_unstemmed | Behavioural flexibility in an Arctic seabird using two distinct marine habitats to survive the energetic constraints of winter |
| title_short | Behavioural flexibility in an Arctic seabird using two distinct marine habitats to survive the energetic constraints of winter |
| title_sort | behavioural flexibility in an arctic seabird using two distinct marine habitats to survive the energetic constraints of winter |
| topic | Non-breeding Nocturnal foraging Uria lomvia Labrador Sea Daily activity rate Biologging |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-022-00344-3 |
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