Male and female contributions to provisioning rates of thin-billed prions, Pachyptila belcheri, in the South Atlantic - Research portal of Justus Liebig University Giessen:

Journal article

Male and female contributions to provisioning rates of thin-billed prions, Pachyptila belcheri, in the South Atlantic

Authors list: Quillfeldt, P; Strange, IJ; Segelbacher, G; Masello, JF

Publication year: 2007

Pages: 367-372

Journal: Journal of Ornithology

Volume number: 148

Issue number: 3

ISSN: 0021-8375

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-007-0138-0

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:
We recorded individual provisioning patterns of male and female thin-billed prions in the largest known colony on New Island (Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean), to determine male and female contributions to provisioning rates and to compare them with data from their other main breeding site, on Kerguelen, in the Southern Indian Ocean. Both male and female birds from New Island undertook trips of 1-8 days' duration (median 3 days), similar to those on Kerguelen, although we did not observe a clear distinction between long and short trips. Meal sizes increased with longer trips but did not differ between male birds and female birds. Thus, as on Kerguelen, male and female thin-billed prions on New Island contributed equally to chick provisioning. The proportion of short trips was comparable to those observed in a more favourable year, and was higher than those in a poor year, on Kerguelen. In order to avoid potential disturbance to the birds in the colony by frequent capture and handling, we used miniature radio-tags to record the presence of individuals in the colony and to evaluate the influence of transmitter load on the birds. Despite generally deteriorating conditions towards the end of the breeding season, chicks of tagged adults were fed normally, indicating that the method is adequate.

Authors/Editors

- Uni.-Prof. Dr. Petra Quillfeldt

Citation Styles

Harvard Citation style: Quillfeldt, P., Strange, I., Segelbacher, G. and Masello, J. (2007) Male and female contributions to provisioning rates of thin-billed prions, Pachyptila belcheri, in the South Atlantic, Journal of Ornithology, 148(3), pp. 367-372. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-007-0138-0

APA Citation style: Quillfeldt, P., Strange, I., Segelbacher, G., & Masello, J. (2007). Male and female contributions to provisioning rates of thin-billed prions, Pachyptila belcheri, in the South Atlantic. Journal of Ornithology. 148(3), 367-372. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-007-0138-0