Breeding status influences timing but not duration of moult in the Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis

Antoine Grissot (Corresponding Author), Isla M. Graham, Lucy Quinn, Vegard S. Brathen, Paul M Thompson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

Seabirds are key marine top predator species that are often used as indicators of the environmental quality of the oceans. Their breeding phenology has been studied extensively, but their pelagic habits mean less is known about the phenology of other events during the non-breeding period. Here, we used miniaturised saltwater immersion light-based geolocators (GLS) to investigate moult phenology in individuals with known breeding histories in a population of Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis in Orkney, Scotland. As seabirds spend more time on the water during moult, moulting periods can be identified from patterns of variation in the amount of time that birds are in contact with saltwater. Estimates of daily variation in this behaviour during the non-breeding period were based upon wet/dry sensors and then modelled to characterise the timing of the moult. Light-based geolocation provided information on the areas used by each individual during its moult period. Inter-individual variability in moult timing was investigated in relation to sex and breeding success in the previous summer. We found a sex difference in the location of the moult, but not in its timing. However, the timing of moult did differ between individuals that had succeeded or failed in their previous breeding attempt, with successful breeders moulting the latest. In contrast, the duration of moult did not depend on prior reproductive success, but there was evidence of inter-annual variation in moult duration. GLS studies have provided a step change in our understanding of the at-sea distribution of pelagic seabirds. Our work highlights how activity data from these devices can add value to such studies by identifying key phases of the annual cycle, and locations at these times, when seabirds may be at particular risk. Furthermore, our findings indicate that individual and inter-annual variation in breeding success may influence phenological patterns in other phases of their annual cycle.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)446-459
Number of pages14
JournalIbis
Volume162
Issue number2
Early online date7 Mar 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2020

Bibliographical note

We thank Orkney Islands Council for access to Eynhallow and all the fieldworkers involved in deployment and recovery of the GLS tags and colony monitoring. All ringing work was carried out under permit from the BTO. We are grateful to James Fox of Migrate Technologies for recovering data from GLS loggers which would not download, and Richard Phillips and Janet Silk of BAS for advice on GLS analysis. Lucy Quinn was supported by a NERC Studentship and additional funding to support fieldwork was gratefully received from Talisman Energy (UK) Ltd. Additional support for loggers and analysis was provided through the SEATRACK project, which is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association.

Keywords

  • phenology
  • moulting
  • non-breeding
  • Procellariiformes
  • light-based geolocation
  • TRACKING REVEALS
  • PERFORMANCE
  • IDENTIFICATION
  • SEA
  • WING-MOLT
  • STRATEGIES
  • ACTIVITY BUDGETS
  • ACTIVITY PATTERNS
  • SEABIRD
  • PHENOLOGY

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