Presentation Details
| Coordinated dual foraging increases chick growth rate in Manx shearwaters Bridget Harrington1, Tim Guilford2. 1Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA.2Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom |
Abstract
To secure residual reproductive success, long-lived species must balance investment between reproduction and survival. For pelagic seabirds, one of the greatest costs of reproduction is foraging, as they must return to the colony regularly to feed their chick. To balance this cost with survival, many seabirds adopt a dual foraging strategy, alternating between long trips for self-maintenance, and short trips for chick provisioning. This divergence in trip length and function has been documented across numerous studies, yet few have examined the potential role of partner coordination. We hypothesise that coordination is important, allowing partners to adjust the timing of their trips with respect to the other. This reduces the likelihood that partners perform long trips simultaneously, leaving the chick without food for extended periods, and ensures more consistent food delivery. We tested for partner coordination in 11 pairs of Manx shearwaters and examined how coordination related to chick growth rates and adult condition. We found that partners do coordinate their trips, and that higher levels of coordination are associated with increased chick growth rates.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
Content Locked. Log into a registered attendee account to access this presentation.