Sulfur isotopes link overwinter habitat use and breeding condition in Double-crested Cormorants.
North American Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) populations have increased greatly. Both breeding and overwintering ground factors have likely contributed to these increases. However, demonstrating how overwintering conditions may affect breeding birds has not been possible because of the difficulty in linking breeding birds to their wintering grounds. Here, we demonstrate the utility of stable sulfur isotopes to elucidate overwintering habitat use by cormorants breeding on Lake Erie. Sulfur isotopes in feathers grown on overwintering grounds provided insights into the degree to which birds used freshwater vs. marine environments. The proportion of birds utilizing freshwater habitats increased through time. This change may have reflected increases in freshwater aquaculture (i.e., catfish) in the U.S. south. Examination of body condition in birds returning to breed on Lake Erie indicated that those individuals that solely used marine habitats for at least a portion of the overwintering period were in poorer condition than birds using freshwater. Enhanced foraging opportunities at aquaculture facilities may improve the fitness of individuals that have returned to breed after overwintering at such locations. This study is the first to demonstrate a linkage between overwinter habitat use and breeding ground parameters in Double-crested Cormorants. These results underscore that factors throughout the Mississippi flyway are likely acting together to regulate cormorant populations.
Hebert
Craig E
CE
Environment Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada. craig.hebert@ec.gc.ca
Bur
Michael
M
Sherman
David
D
Shutt
J Laird
JL
D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight; D017753:Ecosystem; D005241:Feathers / Q000737:chemistry; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D013455:Sulfur / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013460:Sulfur Isotopes
D013460:Sulfur Isotopes; D013455:Sulfur