Thesis
Annual and individual patterns in the behavioural cycle of the Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus
- Abstract:
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Recent innovations in the miniaturisation of animal tracking devices have enabled the study of species that are not amenable to direct observation. This has been particularly the case for pelagic seabirds, whose at-sea behaviour would otherwise be very difficult to observe. This thesis investigates patterns in the migration and behavioural cycle of the Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) using miniature geolocators. By analysing these data with a range of computational approaches, insights are made into the otherwise cryptic behaviour and ecology of this seabird.
Chapter 1 provides a general introduction to annual cycles in animal behaviour and migration in seabirds. The ecology and behaviour of the Manx shearwater is then outlined, as are recent advances in tracking technology that have enabled the study of otherwise unmeasurable aspects of the ecology of this species.
Chapter 2 first details the core fieldwork and data processing procedures which were used to generate the data used in this thesis. Using a dataset of Manx shearwater migration tracks gathered by geolocation tracking programmes on 5 UK islands, individual consistency, colony-level, annual and sex-differences in the phenology of migrations are investigated.
Chapter 3 provides a detailed analysis of Manx shearwater migration routes. Building on previous work in this area, key differences are identified between colonies and individual birds in wintering area and the overall path along which they migrate.
In chapter 4 an unsupervised classification algorithm is trained to identify behavioural states during the Manx shearwater migration using saltwater immersion data. These behavioural states are used to identify periods of stopover during which a bird pauses its migration to rest or refuel. Areas of sea are identified which are commonly used by Manx shearwaters for stopover behaviour.
In chapter 5 a similar algorithm is used to identify behavioural states during the breeding season using light and saltwater immersion data from archival loggers. These time series of behavioural states are used to estimate the timing of major life history events such as egg laying and incubation, enabling the study of breeding behaviour and ecology in this burrow nesting seabird.
Chapter 6 draws on the results from chapters 2, 3, 4 and 5 to build up a picture of the Manx shearwater annual cycle and then goes on to investigate how the timing of key life history periods impacts on future behavioural events.
Chapter 7 provides a general discussion of the Manx shearwater behavioural cycle in light of the previous chapters, with a focus on inter-colony differences and individual consistency in behaviour, as well as implications of the research for conservation of the species.
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Authors
Contributors
- Institution:
- University of Oxford
- Division:
- MPLS
- Department:
- Biology
- Role:
- Supervisor
- Funder identifier:
- https://ror.org/05k87vq12
- Programme:
- Postgraduate Studentship
- DOI:
- Type of award:
- DPhil
- Level of award:
- Doctoral
- Awarding institution:
- University of Oxford
- Language:
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English
- Keywords:
- Subjects:
- Deposit date:
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2024-09-03
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Kirk, H
- Copyright date:
- 2016
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