Four millennia of long-term individual foraging site fidelity in a highly migratory marine predator.

ABSTRACT: Theory and field studies suggest that long-term individual foraging site fidelity (IFSF) may be an important adaptation to competition from increasing population. However, the driving mechanisms and extent of long-term IFSF in wild populations of long-lived, migratory animals has been logistically difficult to study, with only a few confirmed instances. Temporal isotopic datasets can reveal long-term patterns in geographical foraging behaviour. We investigate the isotopic compositions of endangered short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) over four millennia leading up to their near-extinction. Although not exhibited by short-tailed albatross today, we show past sub-populations displayed a high-degree of long-term IFSF, focusing on the same locations for hundreds of generations. This

SUBMITTER: Guiry EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9010445 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature