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Journal of BirdLife Australia
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Assessing the trophic niche of South American Terns integrating conventional and isotopic methods

Alejandro J. Gatto A C and Pablo Yorio A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Centro Nacional Patagónico, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Boulevard Brown 2915, U9120ACV, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.

B Wildlife Conservation Society, Amenabar 1595, Piso 2, Oficina 19, C1426AKC, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

C Corresponding author. Email: alegatto@cenpat-conicet.gob.ar

Emu 116(3) 230-240 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU15010
Submitted: 24 January 2014  Accepted: 29 October 2015   Published: 7 March 2016

Abstract

Conventional dietary studies combined with stable isotope analysis allowed the characterisation of the trophic niche of South American Terns (Sterna hirundinacea) breeding in Argentina. Direct observation of prey deliveries during mate- and chick-provisioning showed that the diet of South American Terns comprised at least 18 prey items, mainly pelagic schooling fish with smaller proportions of marine invertebrates. Argentine Anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) was the main fish prey. Adults delivered a higher proportion of fish and smaller prey to their chicks than to their mates. Analysis of stable isotope ratios in blood samples, using Bayesian stable isotope mixing models, indicated that adult Terns used a higher proportion of marine invertebrates for self-feeding than for mate- or chick-provisioning. Analyses of stable isotopes ratios in blood samples from chicks were consistent with the determination of diet from direct observation, and indicated differences from adults in both the proportion of different prey in the diet and trophic niche. In addition, isotopic niche analysis showed that chicks had a significantly higher trophic position compared with self-feeding adults during both mate-provisioning and chick stages. The results highlight the importance of combining stable isotope and conventional methods to adequately assess the food requirements of a population during the breeding season.

Additional keywords: breeding diet, isotopic niche, Patagonia, prey provisioning, self-feeding, Sterna hirundinacea.


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