Title
Spatial and temporal foraging movement patterns in royal terns (Thalasseus maximus) and cayenne terns (Thalasseus sandvicensis eurygnathus) in Northern Patagonia, Argentina
Author(s)
Gatto, A.;Yorio, P.;Doldan, M. S.;Gomila, L. V.
Published
2019
Publisher
Waterbirds
Abstract
Royal Terns ( Thalasseus maximus) and Cayenne Tenn ( Thalasseus sandvicensis eutygmathus) breed sympatrically in Patagonia, and very little is known about their breeding foraging patterns. Simultaneous information on the foraging patterns of both species using VHF radio-telemetry is presented from a mixed species colony in the Punta Leon Protected Area (43 degrees 04' S, 64 degrees 29' W), Chubut, Argentina. Transmitters were deployed on nesting adults of each species, which were tracked during the late incubation period between 21 November and 3 December 2006. In total, 101 locations of foraging terns were identified by means of radio-telemetry from the coast. Royal and Cayenne terns foraged primarily in waters less than 15 km offshore. Attenuation and lack of signal reception in some of these trips indicate that foraging also took place in waters further away, but in most cases along the coastline. Results indicate a different temporal pattern of nest departures between species. Royal Tern departure frequencies were not uniform, peaking around midday. In contrast. Cayenne 'fern departure frequencies were higher around morning twilight, with lower peaks during early morning and evening twilight.
Keywords
Argentina;foraging areas;Patagonia;seabirds;telemetry;Thalasseus;sandvicensis eurygnathus;Thalasseus maximus;sandwich terns;habitat use;ecology;seabirds;segregation;tracking;chicks;Zoology
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PUB24831