Does location really matter? An inter-colony comparison of seabirds breeding at varying distances from productive oceanographic features in the Bering Sea

Authors

• Ann Harding, Alaska Pacific UniversityFollow
• Rosana Paredes, Oregon State University
• Robert Suryan, Oregon State University
• Daniel Roby, Oregon State University
• David Irons, US Fish and Wilflife Service
• Rachael Orben, University of California - Santa Cruz
• Heather Renner, US Fish and Wilflife Service
• Rebecca Young, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Christopher Barger, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Ine Dorresteijn, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Alexander Kitaysky, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Date of this Version

2013

Citation

Deep-Sea Research II 94 (2013) 178–191; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2013.03.013

Abstract

Central place foragers, such as breeding seabirds, need to commute between their nests and foraging grounds, thus close proximity of the breeding colony to productive oceanographic features might be beneficial for seabird reproduction. We tested this hypothesis by investigating the at-sea foraging and breeding behavior of thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia) nesting at three colonies (Bogoslof, St. Paul, and St. George Islands) in the Bering Sea located at different distances from the productive continental shelf-break. We found that distances to feeding are as differed only during night trips among colonies. St. Paul murres foraged entirely on the shelf, whereas St. George murres commuted to the continental shelf-break at night and foraged on the shelf during the day. Bogoslof murres foraged in oceanic waters in close proximity to the colony.