From populations to individuals: understanding foraging niche dynamics, individual specialization, and behavioral plasticity in the common murre (Uria aalge) and razorbill (Alca torda) in northeastern Newfoundland

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dc.contributor.authorGulka, Julia
dc.contributor.examiningcommitteeRoth, James (Biological Sciences) Ronconi, Robert (Biological Sciences Dalhousie)en_US
dc.contributor.supervisorDavoren, Gail (Biological Sciences)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2019-01-08T21:24:15Z
dc.date.available2019-01-08T21:24:15Z
dc.date.issued2018en_US
dc.date.submitted2018-10-02T18:32:18Zen
dc.degree.disciplineBiological Sciencesen_US
dc.degree.levelMaster of Science (M.Sc.)en_US
dc.description.abstractUnderstanding variation among individuals, populations, and species provides insight into sensitivity to change. The goal of this thesis was to examine individual specialization, niche partitioning, and phenotypic plasticity in two seabirds, the common murre (Uria aalge) and razorbill (Alca torda) breeding in northeastern Newfoundland. Using GPS tracking and stable isotopes, we examined individual- and population-level foraging ecology in relation to changing prey availability. For common murres, we found high within-individual variation in foraging trips and low spatial overlap, indicative of flexible behavior, contrasting a degree of dietary consistency. At the population level, murres and razorbills exhibited spatial segregation and divergent dive characteristics, contrasting high dietary overlap. As prey availability shifted, individuals exhibited reduced energy costs with dietary and behavioral plasticity to exploit highly available prey. Together, these findings support flexible foraging strategies for both species and provide insight into how individuals and populations interact and respond to environmental variation.en_US
dc.description.noteFebruary 2019en_US
dc.identifier.citationAPAen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1993/33668
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsopen accessen_US
dc.subjectPrey availabilityen_US
dc.subjectSeabirdsen_US
dc.subjectForaging behavioren_US
dc.subjectDieten_US
dc.subjectIndividual specializationen_US
dc.subjectNiche partitioningen_US
dc.titleFrom populations to individuals: understanding foraging niche dynamics, individual specialization, and behavioral plasticity in the common murre (Uria aalge) and razorbill (Alca torda) in northeastern Newfoundlanden_US
dc.typemaster thesisen_US
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