Spatial distribution and ecological niches of non-breeding planktivorous petrels

According to niche theory, mechanisms exist that allow co-existence of organisms that would otherwise compete for the same prey and other resources. How seabirds cope with potential competition during the non-breeding period is poorly documented, particularly for small species. Here we investigate for the first time the potential role of spatial, environmental (habitat) and trophic (isotopic) segregation as niche-partitioning mechanisms during the non-breeding season for four species of highly abundant, zooplanktivorous seabird that breed sympatrically in the Southern Ocean. Spatial segregation was found to be the main partitioning mechanism; even for the two sibling species of diving petrel, which spent the non-breeding period in overlapping areas, there was evidence from distribution and stable isotope ratios for differences in habitat use and diving depth.

Details

Publication status:
Published
Author(s):
Authors: Navarro, Joan, Cardador, Laura, Brown, Ruth, Phillips, Richard A.

On this site: Richard Phillips
Date:
13 July, 2015
Journal/Source:
Scientific Reports / 5
Link to published article:
https://doi.org/10.1038/srep12164