Ecology Summary - Oceanodroma leucorhoa

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Ecology of Oceanodroma leucorhoa

Main Ref.	Karpouzi, V.S., 2005
Remarks	Continental shelf; <200 km (Ref. 81748). Found over sea and along shores (Ref. 83946). Pattering and dipping displays (Ref. 81748). One of the largest global population of seabirds at >10 million individuals. Goes on long transequatorial migrations, from high northern or southern latitudes across to high opposite latitudes. Found over a wide variety of habitat. Obtain food at surface of sea; an offshore feeder. Copulation occurring ashore and ovum fertilization happens at sea; delayed fertilization possible because of sperm-storage glands; allows birds to feed at sea while egg forms and prior to the long period of fasting during egg incubation. Stomach oils an energy source to the incubating bird, a species with one of the highest daily rates of mass loss while incubating its eggs. Hatchling size = 6.3 g. Chicks exhibit nestling obesity. Chicks feed sporadically in burrows; conserves water; with urine osmolality of 735 mmol/kg. Effect of oil pollution is slowed weight gain and higher chick mortality. Predation pressure from Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) and Great Black-backed Gulls (Larus marinus) as a consequence of closure of eastern Canadian ground-fishery (1992-1999) which eliminated discard and offal food source for these predatory birds (Ref. 87784).

Main Ref.

Karpouzi, V.S., 2005

Remarks

Continental shelf; <200 km (Ref. 81748). Found over sea and along shores (Ref. 83946). Pattering and dipping displays (Ref. 81748). One of the largest global population of seabirds at >10 million individuals. Goes on long transequatorial migrations, from high northern or southern latitudes across to high opposite latitudes. Found over a wide variety of habitat. Obtain food at surface of sea; an offshore feeder. Copulation occurring ashore and ovum fertilization happens at sea; delayed fertilization possible because of sperm-storage glands; allows birds to feed at sea while egg forms and prior to the long period of fasting during egg incubation. Stomach oils an energy source to the incubating bird, a species with one of the highest daily rates of mass loss while incubating its eggs. Hatchling size = 6.3 g. Chicks exhibit nestling obesity. Chicks feed sporadically in burrows; conserves water; with urine osmolality of 735 mmol/kg. Effect of oil pollution is slowed weight gain and higher chick mortality. Predation pressure from Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) and Great Black-backed Gulls (Larus marinus) as a consequence of closure of eastern Canadian ground-fishery (1992-1999) which eliminated discard and offal food source for these predatory birds (Ref. 87784).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

	Marine - Neritic	Marine - Oceanic	Brackishwater	Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies	supra-littoral zone littoral zone sublittoral zone	epipelagic mesopelagic epipelagic abyssopelagic hadopelagic	estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas mangroves marshes/swamps	rivers/streams lakes/ponds caves exclusively in caves

Highighted items on the list are where Oceanodroma leucorhoa may be found.

Habitat

Substrate
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type
Feeding type Ref.
Feeding habit
Feeding habit Ref.

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method	original sample		unfished population		Remark
Estimation method	Troph	s.e.	Troph	s.e.	Remark
From diet composition
From individual food items	3.48	0.47			Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref.

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Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Habitat

Associations

feeding

Trophic Level(s)