1. Variability of resource partitioning in sympatric tropical boobies
- Author
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Henri Weimerskirch, Matthieu Le Corre, David Pinaud, Michelle A. Kappes, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Marine ( ECOMAR ), Université de la Réunion ( UR ), Centre d'études biologiques de Chizé ( CEBC ), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique ( CNRS ), Laboratoire d'Ecologie Marine (ECOMAR), Université de La Réunion (UR), Centre d'études biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Satellite tracking ,Utilization distribution ,Range (biology) ,GPS ,Foraging ,Population ,Aquatic Science ,Biology ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Intraspecific competition ,[ SDV.EE ] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology, environment ,Sula sula ,14. Life underwater ,Resource partitioning ,education ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,[SDV.EE]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology, environment ,[ SDE.BE ] Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology ,education.field_of_study ,Ecology ,010604 marine biology & hydrobiology ,Interspecific competition ,15. Life on land ,Tromelin Island ,Area-restricted search ,Diet ,Sympatric speciation ,[SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology ,Sula dactylatra - Abstract
International audience; Inter- and intraspecific competition can lead to resource partitioning in sympatric species, processes likely affected by environmental productivity and population size. We investigated the foraging behaviour and diet of masked (Sula dactylatra) and red-footed (S. sula) boobies at Tromelin Island, western Indian Ocean, to examine the role of resource partitioning in the foraging strategies of these sympatric species in an extreme oligotrophic environment. We compared our results to published studies with differing environmental conditions or population sizes. We used GPS loggers and Argos transmitters to track foraging movements and used time-depth recorders to estimate dive depths. Masked boobies travelled further and at faster rates than red-footed boobies, and sexes did not differ in foraging behaviour. Based on randomization tests, the foraging range of each species (95% utilization distribution; UD) overlapped significantly. However, at core foraging areas (50% and 25% UD), interspecific segregation was greater than expected by chance alone. No intraspecific spatial segregation was detected between sexes. Environmental characteristics of area-restricted search zones differed between species, but not sexes; masked boobies utilized warmer, deeper, and less windy oceanic environments than red-footed boobies. Masked boobies attained greater diving depths than red-footed boobies and consumed primarily flying fish, whereas red-footed boobies consumed mostly squid. Red-footed and masked boobies breeding in the extreme oligotrophic environment near Tromelin demonstrated greater dietary partitioning differences in foraging ranges compared to a less oligotrophic environment. This suggests that environmental productivity may play a role in processes of resource partitioning in these sympatric species.
- Published
- 2011
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