@article{fdi:010087871,
  title = {{P}lasticity and overlap of trophic niches in tropical breeding {L}aridae},
  author = {{G}arcia-{Q}uintas, {A}. and {B}ustamante, {P}. and {B}arbraud, {C}. and {L}orrain, {A}nne and {D}enis, {D}. and {L}anco, {S}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}rophic ecology of seabirds in tropical regions remains poorly understood despite the large number of multispecies breeding colonies supported by these ecosystems. {H}ere, we used the isotopic niche (delta 15{N} and delta 13{C}) of 5 {L}aridae species at 2 breeding areas in {C}uba to analyze the plasticity and interspecific overlap of trophic niche determined from chick down and feather samples. {T}he down samples reflected the female trophic regime before laying, while the feather samples incorporated the trophic regime of the chicks provided by the parents during rearing. {T}wo main species groups were identified by their isotopic niche characteristics: species with small and quite stable isotopic niches (trophic specialists) and species with large and highly variable isotopic niches (trophic generalists). {L}aughing gull {L}eucophaeus atricilla , royal tern {T}halasseus maximus , and sandwich tern {T}. sandvicensis were the generalists and showed significant isotopic niche differences between breeding areas and phases. {B}ridled tern {O}nychoprion anaethetus and roseate tern {S}terna dougallii were trophic specialists, but only the former exhibited significant variations in isotopic niche breadth between breeding phases. {O}verall, trophic (inferred from isotopic) niche overlap was relatively low, suggesting that these tropical seabirds reduce competition through niche partitioning. {W}e concluded that trophic niche plasticity and segregation appear to constitute an important adaptive strategy to ensure the breeding success of sympatrically breeding {L}aridae in north-central {C}uba.},
  keywords = {{CUBA} ; {ZONE} {TROPICALE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{M}arine {E}cology {P}rogress {S}eries},
  volume = {742},
  numero = {},
  pages = {131--142},
  ISSN = {0171-8630},
  year = {2024},
  DOI = {10.3354/meps14653},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010087871},
}