Skip to main content
WCS
Menu
Library
Library Catalog
eJournals & eBooks
WCS Research
Archives
Research Use
Finding Aids
Digital Collections
WCS History
WCS Research
Research Publications
Science Data
Services for WCS Researchers
Archives Shop
Bronx Zoo
Department of Tropical Research
Browse By Product
About Us
FAQs
Intern or Volunteer
Staff
Donate
Search WCS.org
Search
search
Popular Search Terms
WCS History
Library and Archives
Library and Archives Menu
Library
Archives
WCS Research
Archives Shop
About Us
Donate
en
fr
Title
Foraging behavior and feeding locations of Imperial Cormorants and Rock Shags breeding sympatrically in Patagonia, Argentina
Author(s)
Sapoznikow A., Quintana F.
Published
2003
Publisher
Waterbirds
Abstract
Although there have been several studies of the foraging behavior of the Imperial Cormorant (Phalacrocorax atriceps) and the Rock Shag (Phalacrocorax magellanicus), none document the feeding performance and the use of feeding areas by these birds breeding in mixed or adjacent colonies. We studied birds nesting sympatrically in two colonies at Malaspina Inlet, Patagonia, Argentina. Both colonies were located on islands separated by 2.2 km: Vernacci Oeste, inside Malaspina Inlet and Vernacci Este at the mouth of the inlet. Rock Shags from both islands and Imperial Cormorants from Vernacci Oeste fed inside the inlet, and showed similar dive duration, surface interval and foraging range. Imperial Cormorants from Vernacci Este Foraged outside the inlet and showed longer dive duration, surface interval and foraging range. Imperial Cormorants made longer foraging trips than Rock Shags (4.9 ± 1.9 vs 1.9 ± 0.7 h) regardless of its colony. There was no overlap between the foraging areas used by Imperial Cormorants from the two colonies. Despite Rock Shags from both islands feeding inside the inlet, there was a little overlap in their foraging locations (3-22%). Rock Shags and Imperial Cormorants breeding in the same colony showed an overlap in their foraging areas, being lower at Vernacci Eeste. than at Vernacci Oeste. Although both species are usually described as having different diving capacities, we found that their diving behavior was similar when feeding in areas of similar environmental conditions.
Keywords
feeding behavior; foraging behavior; seabird; sympatry; Argentina; Aves; Phalacrocoracidae; Phalacrocorax atriceps; Phalacrocorax magellanicus
Access Full Text
A full-text copy of this article may be available. Please email the
WCS Library
to request.
Back
PUB12503