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Habitat, Nutrition, and Mercury in Waterbirds: Ptilochronology as a Novel Bioindicator Tool

Habitat, Nutrition, and Mercury in Waterbirds: Ptilochronology as a Novel Bioindicator Tool. Charles Clarkson Harbor Herons Meeting Staten Island, NY 13 January, 2011. Photo: Gerald Frost. Objectives.

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Habitat, Nutrition, and Mercury in Waterbirds: Ptilochronology as a Novel Bioindicator Tool

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  1. Habitat, Nutrition, and Mercury in Waterbirds: Ptilochronology as a Novel Bioindicator Tool Charles Clarkson Harbor Herons Meeting Staten Island, NY 13 January, 2011 Photo: Gerald Frost

  2. Objectives • Use ptilochronology (feather growth) to predict measures of parental quality, diet, and mercury burden in mixed species waterbird colonies at two locations along the east coast and demonstrate its worth as a universal bioindicator tool in avian studies.

  3. Ptilochronology • Technique of measuring feather growth • Growth-bars laid down in 24 hr increments • Correspond directly with nutritional condition of the individual • Never used as a tool for bioindication

  4. Predictions • 1)Intraspecific variation in feather growth-bar width within a colony site will be indicative of variation in parental investment, as “higher quality” adults will provision nestlings more efficiently. • 2)Intraspecific variation in feather growth-bar width between multiple colony sites will be indicative of differing habitat qualities (quality/quantity of diet, contaminant load).

  5. Methods: Study Sites Canarsie Pol Hoffman Island Chincoteague Causeway Chimney Pole Googlemaps.com

  6. Methods: Study Species • Two species belonging to the same waterbird guild yet representing two endpoints of foraging habit. • Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) • Tactile forager • Invertebrates and mollusks • Foraging habit delimits spatial exploitation • Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocoraxauritus) • Habitat generalist • Free-swimming • Piscivorous Photos: Gerald Frost

  7. Growth-bar Analysis

  8. Fault Bars

  9. Future Directions • Model growth-bar width as a predictor variable: Akaike’s Information Criterion • AICc = N*ln(SS/N)+2K+(2K(K+1))/(N-K-1) • Captive food supplementation study • National Zoo, Washington D.C • White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) • Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimusruber) • Colony-wide biomass consumption • How much biomass is consumed during the breeding season? • All nesting species (~8 spp)

  10. Acknowledgements • Mike Erwin • Susan Elbin • Mark Kopeny • John Porter • Carleton Ray • Matt Reidenbach • UVA; VCR LTER; NYC Audubon; American Littoral Society; Virginia Society of Ornithology; National Park Service; NYC Parks • Friends and Family

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