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Evidence of intra-specific competition for food in a pelagic seabird

Nature volume 412, pages 816–819 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

The factors affecting the population dynamics of seabirds have long intrigued biologists1,2,3,4,5. Current data suggest that density-dependent depletion of prey during the breeding season may regulate population size6,7,8,9. However, much of the evidence for this has been circumstantial, and the underlying mechanisms are unclear5,10. Here, we show that the per capita population growth rates of northern gannet Morus bassanus at colonies in Britain and Ireland have declined with increasing population size. Furthermore, direct observations reveal that the mean foraging trip duration of breeding gannets is positively correlated with colony size, both among colonies of different sizes in the same year, and within colonies as they change in size. To understand this phenomenon, we have developed a model which demonstrates that disturbance of fish alone can readily generate conditions under which gannets at larger colonies have to travel further to obtain food.

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Figure 1: Location and size of gannet colonies.
Figure 2: Density dependence in gannet colony growth.
Figure 3: Gannets from larger colonies travel further to find food.

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Acknowledgements

This paper could not have been written without the long tradition of counting gannets pioneered by J. H. Gurney and continued by J. Fisher, H. G. Vevers, D. Saunders and S. Murray. We thank T. Begg, A. Bull, J. Bull, F. Daunt, C. Gray, M. Harris, C. Holt, M. Maher, L. Milne, D. de Palacio, K. Redman and C. Roger for recording changeover rates. We also thank D. Bates, P. Harvey, O. Merne and A. Walsh, the Neale family, D. Shaw, M. and L. Smyth, B. Zonfrillo, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Scottish Seabird Centre for logistical support. S. Bearhop, D. Elston and A. Stien gave statistical advice, while S. Albon, F. Daunt, M. Harris, R. Moss, J. Sherratt and K. Thompson commented on an earlier draft. This project was funded by a Natural Environment Research Council CASE Research Studentship to S.L.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Durham, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom

    S. Lewis, T. N. Sherratt & K. C. Hamer

  2. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Banchory Research Station, Hill of Brathens, AB31 4BW, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom

    S. Lewis & S. Wanless

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  1. S. Lewis
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  4. S. Wanless
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Correspondence to T. N. Sherratt.

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Lewis, S., Sherratt, T., Hamer, K. et al. Evidence of intra-specific competition for food in a pelagic seabird. Nature 412, 816–819 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35090566

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