Using referential values of δ13C and δ15N to infer the foraging ecology of Galápagos seabirds

The Galápagos Penguin Spheniscus mendiculus, Flightless Cormorant Phalacrocorax harrisi, and Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata are endemic to Islas Galápagos. They are known to feed on different prey (including crustaceans, cephalopods, and/or several species of epipelagic and benthic fish), in a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine ornithology 2019-01, Vol.47 (1), p.5
Main Authors: Jiménez-Uzcátegui, Gustavo, Vaca, Leandro, Cotín, Javier, García, Carolina, Costales, Alba, Sevilla, Christian, Páez-Rosas, Diego
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic birds
Aquatic crustaceans
Benthos
Breeding seasons
Crustaceans
Endemic species
Fish
Foraging
Habitat selection
Isotopes
Phalacrocorax harrisi
Phoebastria irrorata
Prey
Seabirds
Trophic levels
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Summary:The Galápagos Penguin Spheniscus mendiculus, Flightless Cormorant Phalacrocorax harrisi, and Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata are endemic to Islas Galápagos. They are known to feed on different prey (including crustaceans, cephalopods, and/or several species of epipelagic and benthic fish), in accordance with different foraging strategies. In this work, we used stable-isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen to corroborate available information on habitat use (δ13C) and trophic position (δ15N). Feather samples from the three species were collected in six different areas prior to the 2011 and 2012 breeding seasons. Results showed differences in foraging strategies between Galápagos Penguins and the other two species (δ13C and δ15N, P < 0.01). The Flightless Cormorant and Waved Albatross showed similar proportions of δ13C (P = 0.07), but they occupied different trophic levels (δ15N, P < 0.01).
ISSN:1018-3337
2074-1235