Non‐linear feeding functional responses in the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) predict immediate negative impact of wetland degradation on this flagship species. Issue 5 (12th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Deville, Anne‐Sophie; Grémillet, David; Gauthier‐Clerc, Michel; Guillemain, Matthieu; Von, Friederike; Gardelli, Bruno; Béchet, Arnaud
• Is Part Of: Ecology and evolution. Volume 3:Issue 5(2013:May)
• Page Start: 1413
• Page End: 1425
• Publication Date: 2013-04-12
• Subjects: Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution -- Periodicals; 577.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.554
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-7758

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en" id="ece3554-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Accurate knowledge of the functional response of predators to prey density is essential for understanding food web dynamics, to parameterize mechanistic models of animal responses to environmental change, and for designing appropriate conservation measures. Greater flamingos (<italic>Phoenicopterus roseus</italic>), a flagship species of Mediterranean wetlands, primarily feed on <italic>Artemias</italic> (<italic>Artemia spp</italic>.) in commercial salt pans, an industry which may collapse for economic reasons. Flamingos also feed on alternative prey such as Chironomid larvae (e.g., <italic>Chironomid spp</italic>.) and rice seeds (<italic>Oryza sativa</italic>). However, the profitability of these food items for flamingos remains unknown. We determined the functional responses of flamingos feeding on <italic>Artemias, </italic>Chironomids, or rice. Experiments were conducted on 11 captive flamingos. For each food item, we offered different ranges of food densities, up to 13 times natural abundance. Video footage allowed estimating intake rates. Contrary to theoretical predictions for filter feeders, intake rates did not increase linearly with increasing food density (type I). Intake rates rather increased asymptotically with increasing food density (type II) or followed a sigmoid shape (type III). Hence, flamingos were not able to ingest food in direct proportion to their abundance, possibly because of unique bill structure resulting in limited filtering capabilities. Overall, flamingos foraged more efficiently on <italic>Artemias</italic>. When feeding on Chironomids, birds had lower instantaneous rates of food discovery and required more time to extract food from the sediment and ingest it, than when filtering <italic>Artemias</italic> from the water column. However, feeding on rice was energetically more profitable for flamingos than feeding on <italic>Artemias</italic> or Chironomids, explaining their attraction for rice fields. Crucially, we found that food densities required for flamingos to reach asymptotic intake rates are rarely met under natural conditions. This allows us to predict an immediate negative effect of any decrease in prey density upon flamingo foraging performance.</p> </abstract>