Is individual consistency in body mass and reproductive decisions linked to individual specialization in foraging behavior in a long-lived seabird?

ABSTRACT: Individual specialization in diet or foraging behavior within apparently generalist populations has been described for many species, especially in polar and temperate marine environments, where resource distribution is relatively predictable. It is unclear, however, whether and how increased environmental variability - and thus reduced predictability of resources - due to global climate change will affect individual specialization. We determined the within- and among-individual components of the trophic niche and the within-individual repeatability of δ(13)C and δ(15)N in feathers and red blood cells of individual female southern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome) across 7 years. We also investigated the effect of environmental variables (Southern Annular Mode, Southern Oscillation

SUBMITTER: Dehnhard N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4930996 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature