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Hierarchical patch dynamics and animal movement pattern

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Abstract

In hierarchical patch systems, small-scale patches of high density are nested within large-scale patches of low density. The organization of multiple-scale hierarchical systems makes non-random strategies for dispersal and movement particularly important. Here, we apply a new method based on first-passage time on the pathway of a foraging seabird, the Antarctic petrel (Thalassoica antarctica), to quantify its foraging pattern and the spatial dynamics of its foraging areas. Our results suggest that Antarctic petrels used a nested search strategy to track a highly dynamic hierarchical patch system where small-scale patches were congregated within patches at larger scales. The birds searched for large-scale patches by traveling fast and over long distances. Once within a large-scale patch, the birds concentrated their search to find smaller scale patches. By comparing the pathway of different birds we were able to quantify the spatial scale and turnover of their foraging areas. On the largest scale we found foraging areas with a characteristic scale of about 400 km. Nested within these areas we found foraging areas with a characteristic scale of about 100 km. The large-scale areas disappeared or moved within a time frame of weeks while the nested small-scale areas disappeared or moved within days. Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is the dominant food item of Antarctic petrels and we suggest that our findings reflect the spatial dynamics of krill in the area.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Norwegian Antarctic Research Expedition and the Norwegian Research Council. We thank H. Jensen for help with fieldwork. R. A. Ims, H. Jensen, B.-E. Sæther and N. G. Yoccoz gave helpful comments on earlier drafts. H. Weimerskirch and four anonymous reviewers gave valuable comments that improved the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Division for Arctic Ecology, The Polar Environmental Center, 9296, Tromsø, Norway

    Per Fauchald & Torkild Tveraa

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  1. Per Fauchald
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  2. Torkild Tveraa
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Correspondence to Per Fauchald.

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Communicated by Wolf Mooij

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Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Table 1 Statistics from 58 foraging trips of Antarctic petrels. ARS scale Area-restricted search scale [scale at which the observed variance in log first-passage time (FPT) peaked], Observed var(FPT) observed variance at this scale, Mean var(FPT) under H0 corresponding mean variance assuming random displacement between locations, P(H0) probability that the observed var(FPT) belongs to a random trip, NA not applicable, NS not significant
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Fauchald, P., Tveraa, T. Hierarchical patch dynamics and animal movement pattern. Oecologia 149, 383–395 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-006-0463-7

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