Developing comprehensive models to evaluate intrinsic factors and human activity impacts on seabird reproductive performance

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H04374
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 64040:Social-ecological systems-related
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Shoji Akiko 筑波大学, 生命環境系, 准教授 (30792080)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 新妻 靖章 名城大学, 農学部, 教授 (00387763) ; 高橋 晃周 国立極地研究所, 先端研究推進系, 教授 (40413918)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: キャリーオーバー効果 / 海鳥 / 操作実験 / バイオロギング / 個体群動態

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We experimentally increased the reproductive costs for the flying seabird, the Black-legged Kittiwake, and found that it resulted in a longer breeding period, delayed departure for the autumn migration after breeding, and increased activity levels during the migration period. This suggests that parent birds flexibly extended their breeding period and potentially spent more time foraging during migration to recover their energy. Furthermore, we found that individuals that traveled farther from the breeding grounds during migration had better reproductive success the following year. This indicates a relationship between migration distance and subsequent reproductive success, demonstrating that ecological carryover effects from the breeding season can influence behavior during the non-breeding season and impact reproductive success in the following year.

Free Research Field

行動生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究によって、飛翔コストの変化に起因する行動変容が生態学的キャリーオーバー効果を通じて及ぼす繁殖成績への影響を評価することが可能となり、個体群動態決定プロセスの理解を進展させるものである。野外における他種や他個体群の個体群動態予測や、希少種保全など様々な問題への応用が期待できる。