seabirds; stable isotopes; Sub Antarctic; global climate change
Abstract :
[en] Individual specialization in diet or foraging behavior within apparently generalist
populations has been described for many species, especially in polar and
temperate marine environments, where resource distribution is relatively predictable.
It is unclear, however, whether and how increased environmental variability
– and thus reduced predictability of resources – due to global climate
change will affect individual specialization. We determined the within- and
among-individual components of the trophic niche and the within-individual
repeatability of d13C and d15N in feathers and red blood cells of individual
female southern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome) across 7 years. We
also investigated the effect of environmental variables (Southern Annular Mode,
Southern Oscillation Index, and local sea surface temperature anomaly) on the
isotopic values, as well as the link between stable isotopes and female body
mass, clutch initiation dates, and total clutch mass. We observed consistent red
blood cell d13C and d15N values within individuals among years, suggesting a
moderate degree of within-individual specialization in C and N during the prebreeding
period. However, the total niche width was reduced and individual
specialization not present during the premolt period. Despite significant interannual
differences in isotope values of C and N and environmental conditions,
none of the environmental variables were linked to stable isotope values and
thus able to explain phenotypic plasticity. Furthermore, neither the within-individual
nor among-individual effects of stable isotopes were found to be related
to female body mass, clutch initiation date, or total clutch mass. In conclusion,
our results emphasize that the degree of specialization within generalist populations
can vary over the course of 1 year, even when being consistent within the
same season across years. We were unable to confirm that environmental variability
counteracts individual specialization in foraging behavior, as phenotypic
plasticity in d13C and d15N was not linked to any of the environmental variables
studied.
Research Center/Unit :
MARE - Centre Interfacultaire de Recherches en Océanologie - ULiège FOCUS - Freshwater and OCeanic science Unit of reSearch - ULiège
Dehnhard, Nina; Universiteit Antwerpen - UA > Dept. Biology > Behavioural Ecology & Ecophysiology Group
Eens, Marcel; Universiteit Antwerpen - UA > Dept. Biology > Behavioural Ecology & Ecophysiology Group
Sturaro, Nicolas ; Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanographie biologique
Lepoint, Gilles ; Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanographie biologique
Demongin, Laurent; Universiteit Antwerpen - UA > Dept. Biology > Behavioural Ecology & Ecophysiology Group
Quillfeldt, Petra; Universiteit Antwerpen - UA > Dept. Biology > Behavioural Ecology & Ecophysiology Group
Poisbleau, Maud; Universiteit Antwerpen - UA > Dept. Biology > Behavioural Ecology & Ecophysiology Group
Language :
English
Title :
Is individual consistency in body mass and reproductive decisions linked to individual specialization in foraging behavior in a long-lived seabird?
Publication date :
2016
Journal title :
Ecology and Evolution
eISSN :
2045-7758
Publisher :
Wiley
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
FWO - Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen DFG - Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Environmental Studies Budget grant from the Falkland Islands Governmen
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