Poor ocean conditions leave murrelet chicks exposed to nest predators for longer
Less favorable ocean conditions mean marbled murrelet chicks take longer to leave the nest, making them more vulnerable to predation, according to a new study of the Pacific Northwest seabird by Oregon State University scientists.
Oregon State University researchers found that poor ocean conditions cause marbled murrelet chicks to spend more time in nests, making them more vulnerable to predators. The study, published in Ornithology, quantified how murrelet parents fed their chicks under various ocean conditions and found that chicks received fewer feeding visits per day during poor conditions.
While the chicks' daily energy intake was only slightly greater under favorable conditions because the fish they received were larger and more energy-dense, it took 25% longer for chicks to fledge—about eight days longer—during poor ocean conditions. This extended period of time in nests increases exposure to nest predators. Murrelets are threatened in Washington, Oregon, and California, and their recovery may depend on protecting both forage fish resources and forest nesting habitat.
Written by urgent.news from Phys.org's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
