Ecology Summary - Fulmarus glacialis

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Ecology of Fulmarus glacialis

Main Ref.	SAUP Database, 2006
Remarks	Surface seizing; shallow plunging; up to 300 km from colony; ice-associated (Ref. 356). A northern hemisphere species and one of the largest global population of seabirds at >10 million individuals. Often scavengers; foraging technique of being able to harvest prey underwater (Ref. 87784). Largely dependent on pelagic prey. In the North Sea off the east coast of Scotland and northern England, is known to feed on the sandeel, Ammodytes marinus (Ref. 95711). Before pair formation, female prospecting period characterized by visiting different parts of the colony and even different colonies. Older breeders often return to breeding colony earlier than young birds and have the highest nesting success. Copulation takes place inshore and the delayed fertilization of the ovum happens out at sea, allowing birds to feed while egg is forming and prior to the long fasts during egg incubation. Monogamy important due to intensive nest site defense, that may extend for months prior to egg-laying; also as male and female share feeding and guarding shifts during brooding. Chicks accumulate huge amount of nonstructural body fat during development, up to 30% of body mass, prior to fledging; prefledging mass recession completely due to water loss in tissues as they attain functional maturity. Field Metabolic Rates (FMR) decrease with wind speed in this species. Vulnerable to long-line fisheries (Ref. 87784).

Main Ref.

SAUP Database, 2006

Remarks

Surface seizing; shallow plunging; up to 300 km from colony; ice-associated (Ref. 356). A northern hemisphere species and one of the largest global population of seabirds at >10 million individuals. Often scavengers; foraging technique of being able to harvest prey underwater (Ref. 87784). Largely dependent on pelagic prey. In the North Sea off the east coast of Scotland and northern England, is known to feed on the sandeel, Ammodytes marinus (Ref. 95711). Before pair formation, female prospecting period characterized by visiting different parts of the colony and even different colonies. Older breeders often return to breeding colony earlier than young birds and have the highest nesting success. Copulation takes place inshore and the delayed fertilization of the ovum happens out at sea, allowing birds to feed while egg is forming and prior to the long fasts during egg incubation. Monogamy important due to intensive nest site defense, that may extend for months prior to egg-laying; also as male and female share feeding and guarding shifts during brooding. Chicks accumulate huge amount of nonstructural body fat during development, up to 30% of body mass, prior to fledging; prefledging mass recession completely due to water loss in tissues as they attain functional maturity. Field Metabolic Rates (FMR) decrease with wind speed in this species. Vulnerable to long-line fisheries (Ref. 87784).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

	Marine - Neritic	Marine - Oceanic	Brackishwater	Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies	supra-littoral zone littoral zone sublittoral zone	epipelagic mesopelagic epipelagic abyssopelagic hadopelagic	estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas mangroves marshes/swamps	rivers/streams lakes/ponds caves exclusively in caves

Highighted items on the list are where Fulmarus glacialis may be found.

Habitat

Substrate
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref.	Schreiber, E.A. and J. Burger, 2001
Associations	colony-forming/symphorism;
Associated with
Association remarks	One of the largest global population of seabirds at >10 million individuals; with breeding colonies (Ref. 87784). Also in Ref. 95711.
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type	mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref.	Daunt, F., S. Wanless, P.R. Simon, H.J. Greenstreet, K.R. Hamer and M.P. Harris, 2008
Feeding habit	hunting macrofauna (predator)
Feeding habit Ref.	Daunt, F., S. Wanless, P.R. Simon, H.J. Greenstreet, K.R. Hamer and M.P. Harris, 2008

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method	original sample		unfished population		Remark
Estimation method	Troph	s.e.	Troph	s.e.	Remark
From diet composition
From individual food items	3.79	0.82			Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref.

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Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Habitat

Associations

feeding

Trophic Level(s)