Parental care behaviors often differ in dimorphic seabirds, leading to sex-specific differences in foraging behaviors. However, few studies have examined sex-specific foraging behaviors in monomorphic seabirds. Using radio-telemetry, we studied Forster’s Terns (Sterna forsteri)-a monomorphic and socially monogamous seabird-breeding in the South San Francisco Bay, California. Space use did not differ between males and females. Instead, space use varied by breeding stage and colony affiliation. Forster’s Terns were located farthest from the nest during pre-breeding and post-breeding time periods, and closest to the nest during incubation and chick-rearing. Home-range size and core-use areas decreased as the breeding season progressed and were most concentrated in the post-breeding stage. The results of this and other studies indicate that terns, unlike other monomorphic seabirds studied, do not exhibit sex-specific differences in space use. .
How to translate text using browser tools
1 September 2008
Space Use by Forster’s Terns Breeding in South San Francisco Bay
Jill Bluso-Demers,
Mark A. Colwell,
John Y. Takekawa,
Joshua T. Ackerman
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
Waterbirds
Vol. 31 • No. 3
September 2008
Vol. 31 • No. 3
September 2008
breeding stage
colony differences
Forster’s Tern
radio-telemetry
San Francisco Bay
sex differences
space use