Foraging behaviour and habitat use during chick-rearing in the Australian endemic black-faced cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscescens).
Biol Open
; 13(5)2024 May 15.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38752596
ABSTRACT
Despite its wide distribution, relatively little is known of the foraging ecology and habitat use of the black-faced cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscescens), an Australian endemic seabird. Such information is urgently required in view of the rapid oceanic warming of south-eastern Australia, the stronghold of the species. The present study used a combination of opportunistically collected regurgitates and GPS/dive behaviour data loggers to investigate diet, foraging behaviour and habitat-use of black-faced cormorants during four chick-rearing periods (2020-2023) on Notch Island, northern Bass Strait. Observed prey species were almost exclusively benthic (95%), which is consistent with the predominantly benthic diving behaviour recorded. Males foraged at deeper depths than females (median depth males 18â
m; median depth females 8â
m), presumably due to a greater physiological diving capacity derived from their larger body size. This difference in dive depths was associated with sexual segregation of foraging locations, with females predominantly frequenting shallower areas closer to the coastline. These findings have strong implications for the management of the species, as impacts of environmental change may disproportionally affect the foraging range of one sex and, thereby, reproductive success.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Aves
/
Ecossistema
/
Comportamento Alimentar
Limite:
Animals
País/Região como assunto:
Oceania
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Biol Open
/
Biology open
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Austrália