Diet of the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) at two areas at Lovstabukten, South Bothnian Sea, Sweden, based on otolith size-correction factors

Abstract

This study determines Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) diet composition and prey size at two areas 6 km apart, at Bay Lovstabukten, Sweden, in 2005. The study entails the examination of 333 pellets and 2,669 regurgitated fish. To determine the size of the predated fish based on worn otoliths found in pellets, size-correction factors were applied. Regression slopes between fish size and otolith size were applied to estimate the original size of the predated fish. Both pellet-based and regurgitated-fish-based analyses suggested the same dominating prey species by biomass. Based on pellets, Herring (Clupea harengus; 32.5%), European Perch (Perca fluviatilis; 20.9%) and Eelpout (Zoarces viviparus; 18.5%) dominated the diet. Regurgitated-fish samples contained species that were not found in pellets. These were mostly species with small and easily-eroding otoliths, such as Three-spined Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and Greater Sand Eel (Hyperoplus lanceolatus). Cormorant diet between the two areas differed, and within both areas there were gradual changes in diet composition between incubation, nestling, chick and fledgling phases.

Published in

Ornis Fennica
2012, volume: 89, number: 3, pages: 157-169
Publisher: BIRDLIFE FINLAND

SLU Authors

• Ovegård, Maria

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Lunneryd, Sven-Gunnar

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Karlsson, Lars

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Ragnarsson, Bjarne

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Behavioral Sciences Biology
Ecology

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/51082