California least tern diet and reproductive output
Given the
importance of prey availability to seabird demographics, diet studies have
emerged as an important component of seabird ecology. Stable isotope analysis of nonlethal samples
such as feathers and salvaged eggs has become increasingly important in
understanding foraging patterns of seabirds that only return to land during the
nesting season.
The endangered California least tern (Sternula antillarum browni) breeds along ocean, bay, and estuarine shorelines from Baja Mexico to San Francisco Bay and most likely winters in oceanic waters off the coast of Central and South America. Although it has been shown that management practices at nesting sites result in higher reproductive success within an individual colony, key population metrics such as hatching and fledging success remain low and variable.
At this time, not is much is known about California least tern ecology prior to their arrival on the nesting colonies. Using data compiled from numerous sources, this project explores the links between reproductive parameters and nesting chronology, prey community composition, and environmental conditions among breeding seasons from 2003 through 2012. Not only are we learning more about driving factors on California least tern demographics away from the nesting sites, but we are also developing novel ways of using existing data sources to address gaps in understanding of the basic ecology of the species.
For more information on local conservation efforts for the least tern in southern California, please check out work being conducted by the Auduban Society in San Diego and Los Angeles.
The endangered California least tern (Sternula antillarum browni) breeds along ocean, bay, and estuarine shorelines from Baja Mexico to San Francisco Bay and most likely winters in oceanic waters off the coast of Central and South America. Although it has been shown that management practices at nesting sites result in higher reproductive success within an individual colony, key population metrics such as hatching and fledging success remain low and variable.
At this time, not is much is known about California least tern ecology prior to their arrival on the nesting colonies. Using data compiled from numerous sources, this project explores the links between reproductive parameters and nesting chronology, prey community composition, and environmental conditions among breeding seasons from 2003 through 2012. Not only are we learning more about driving factors on California least tern demographics away from the nesting sites, but we are also developing novel ways of using existing data sources to address gaps in understanding of the basic ecology of the species.
For more information on local conservation efforts for the least tern in southern California, please check out work being conducted by the Auduban Society in San Diego and Los Angeles.