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8 - Biophysical influences on seabird trophic assessments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2009

C. J. Camphuysen
By
W. A. Montevecchi ,
S. Garthe  and
G. K. Davoren
Edited by
I. L. Boyd  and
S. Wanless
C. J. Camphuysen
Affiliation:
Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research
W. A. Montevecchi
Affiliation:
Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Memorial University St John's, Newfoundland, Canada A1B 3X9
S. Garthe
Affiliation:
Centre for Research and Technology Westkuste, University of Kiel Hafentörn, D-25761 Büsum, Germany
G. K. Davoren
Affiliation:
Zoology Department, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
I. L. Boyd
Affiliation:
University of St Andrews, Scotland
S. Wanless
Affiliation:
NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK
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Summary

The foraging behaviour and ecology of top predators are expressions of trophic and ecosystem dynamics. Oceanographic fluctuations as well as biological interactions affect exothermic species and, through them, influence their endothermic predators. Planktivorous and piscivorous, surface-feeding and diving seabirds exhibit varying constraint, flexibility, specialization and opportunism in their responses to prey and environmental conditions. Responses can be direct in terms of foraging behaviour, prey capture and diet; or indirect in terms of egg and chick production, growth, breeding success, recruitment and population change. Protracted indirect effects lag behind and buffer environmental change with behaviour and life-history attributes. Focal forage species that fuel large vertebrate food webs exhibit extreme fluctuations in abundance, being highly sensitive to biophysical perturbations, including fishing. Changes in their biology often shift ecosystems to alternative states, yet forage species are understudied. Indications about forage species derived from seabirds can be broadly informative. Synoptic meso-scale studies that link colony measurements to vessel surveys of prey and predators within avian foraging ranges provide an approach for assessing predator responses to variation in prey fields and oceanography. Tracking free-ranging foragers with animal-borne data loggers (which record temperature, pressure, activity and position) details behavioural solutions to current conditions. These foraging tactics of individual predators are mechanisms of the social and population responses that we measure, estimate and model. Physical data from loggers, vessels and satellites can be combined to define thermal habitats and ‘hotspots’ used by predators and prey.

Type
Chapter
Information
Top Predators in Marine Ecosystems
Their Role in Monitoring and Management
 , pp. 118 - 130
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2006

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  • Biophysical influences on seabird trophic assessments
    • By W. A. Montevecchi, Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Memorial University St John's, Newfoundland, Canada A1B 3X9, S. Garthe, Centre for Research and Technology Westkuste, University of Kiel Hafentörn, D-25761 Büsum, Germany, G. K. Davoren, Zoology Department, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
  • Edited by I. L. Boyd, University of St Andrews, Scotland, S. Wanless, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK
  • C. J. Camphuysen, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research
  • Book: Top Predators in Marine Ecosystems
  • Online publication: 31 July 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511541964.009
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  • Biophysical influences on seabird trophic assessments
    • By W. A. Montevecchi, Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Memorial University St John's, Newfoundland, Canada A1B 3X9, S. Garthe, Centre for Research and Technology Westkuste, University of Kiel Hafentörn, D-25761 Büsum, Germany, G. K. Davoren, Zoology Department, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
  • Edited by I. L. Boyd, University of St Andrews, Scotland, S. Wanless, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK
  • C. J. Camphuysen, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research
  • Book: Top Predators in Marine Ecosystems
  • Online publication: 31 July 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511541964.009
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Biophysical influences on seabird trophic assessments
    • By W. A. Montevecchi, Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Memorial University St John's, Newfoundland, Canada A1B 3X9, S. Garthe, Centre for Research and Technology Westkuste, University of Kiel Hafentörn, D-25761 Büsum, Germany, G. K. Davoren, Zoology Department, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
  • Edited by I. L. Boyd, University of St Andrews, Scotland, S. Wanless, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK
  • C. J. Camphuysen, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research
  • Book: Top Predators in Marine Ecosystems
  • Online publication: 31 July 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511541964.009
Available formats
×