Foraging Strategy Plasticity in Fiordland Penguins (Eudyptes Pachyrhynchus): a Stable Isotope Approach
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Marshall University Marshall Digital Scholar Theses, Dissertations and Capstones 2020 FORAGING STRATEGY PLASTICITY IN FIORDLAND PENGUINS (EUDYPTES PACHYRHYNCHUS): A STABLE ISOTOPE APPROACH Jeffrey Wayne White [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://mds.marshall.edu/etd Part of the Animal Sciences Commons, Behavior and Ethology Commons, and the Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons Recommended Citation White, Jeffrey Wayne, "FORAGING STRATEGY PLASTICITY IN FIORDLAND PENGUINS (EUDYPTES PACHYRHYNCHUS): A STABLE ISOTOPE APPROACH" (2020). Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. 1284. https://mds.marshall.edu/etd/1284 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Marshall Digital Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses, Dissertations and Capstones by an authorized administrator of Marshall Digital Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. FORAGING STRATEGY PLASTICITY IN FIORDLAND PENGUINS (EUDYPTES PACHYRHYNCHUS): A STABLE ISOTOPE APPROACH A thesis submitted to the Graduate College of Marshall University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science In Biology by Jeffrey Wayne White Approved by Dr. Herman Mays, Committee Chairperson Dr. Anne Axel Dr. Jennifer Mosher Dr. John Hopkins III Marshall University May 2020 APPROVAL OF THESIS We, the faculty supervising the work of Jeffrey Wayne White, affirm that the thesis, Foraging strategy plasticity in Fiordland Penguins (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus): A stable isotope approach, meets the high academic standards for original scholarship and creative work established by the Biology Department and the College of Arts and Sciences. This work also conforms to the editorial standards of our discipline and the Graduate College of Marshall University. With our signatures, we approve the manuscript for publication. Dr. Herman Mays Department of Biology Committee Chairperson Date: April 20, 2020 HERMAN MAYS Dr. Anne Axel Department of Biology Committee Member Date: April 20, 2020 Dr. Jennifer Mosher Department of Biology Committee Member Date: April 20, 2020 Jennifer Mosher Dr. John Hopkins III, Unity College Committee Member Date: April 20, 2020 ii © 2020 Jeffrey Wayne White ALL RIGHTS RESERVED iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would first like to express my deep gratitude to my thesis advisor Dr. Herman Mays of the Department of Biology at Marshall University. When I interviewed for a position in his lab, we discussed local projects that would have been logistically easier. I was surprised and grateful when I pitched this penguin project and was allowed the freedom and guidance to figure out how to make it happen. I truly believe that this has made me a better scientist and prepared well for any future project I undertake. Thank you. Second, I would like to thank my thesis committee Dr. Anne Axel and Dr. Jennifer Mosher of the Department of Biology at Marshall University and Dr. John Hopkins III of the School of Biodiversity Conservation at Unity College. My committee was always available to guide me throughout this project from study design, data analysis, and interpretation of results. I would also like to thank all the members of the Tawaki Project team including Dr. Thomas Mattern of the University of Otago and Dr. Ursula Ellenberg of LaTrobe University. The dream of studying tawaki would not have happened without them. Thank you both for welcoming me into your field sites and home and teaching me how to be a penguin biologist. Additionally, I must thank Robin Long for helping with sample collection, great conversations in the field, and always answering my questions about the Fiordland bush. Ngā mihi nui! Next, I would like to thank Alexander Murray and Jessica Cantrell for providing feedback and support throughout this project. I would also like to thank Justin Perdue and Kylie Bailey for helping with DNA-based sexing. I must also thank my family for their immeasurable support throughout this project. I would not have been able to attempt graduate school and travel across the world for research without their support and encouragement at every step. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the Royal Naval Bird Watching Society, Birds New Zealand, and the Shearwater Foundation for providing funding to make this research possible. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables………………………………………….…….………………………………………….…..vii List of Figures ………………………………………………………………………………………..….. viii Abstract ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. ix Chapter 1. Review of Eudyptes Penguin Diet and Foraging Ecology………………….………………....…1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………...…. 1 State of Foraging Ecology Research…………………….………………………………………..... 2 Southern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome chyrsocome)….………………….…. 2 Eastern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome filholi) …………………………….…. 5 Northern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes moseleyi)………………………………………… 6 Macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) ……………………………………….………. 7 Royal penguin (Eudyptes schlegeli) …………………………………………………….….. 9 Fiordland penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus) ………………………………….………….. 9 Snares penguin (Eudyptes robustus) ……………………………………………………… 11 Erect-crested penguin (Eudyptes sclateri) ………………………………………………... 12 Considerations for Assessing Foraging Ecology …………………………………………………. 12 Stomach Content Analysis ………………………………………………………………... 12 Fecal DNA Analysis ……………………………………………………………………… 13 Stable Isotope Analysis …………………………………………………………………… 14 Tracking …………………………………………………………………………………... 16 Global Location Sensors (GLS) …………………………………………………... 16 Global Positioning Sensors (GPS) ………………………………………………... 16 Satellite Tags ……………………………………………………………………… 16 v Video Loggers …………………………………………………………………….. 17 Discussion ………………………………………………………………………………………… 18 Chapter 2. Identifying Field Sexing Protocols for Fiordland Penguins…………………………..………………..… 21 Introduction…………………………………………………………………….………………….. 21 Methods …………………………………………………………………………………………… 23 Study Area ………………………………………………………………………………... 23 Capture and Measurement ………………………………………………………………... 23 Molecular Sexing …………………………………………………………………………. 24 Data Analysis ….,…………………………………………………………………………. 25 Results …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 26 Discussion ………………………………………………………………………………………… 29 Chapter 3. Stable Isotope Ecology in Fiordland Penguins…………………………………………………………… 32 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 32 Methods …………………………………………………………………………………………… 36 Study Area ………………………………………………………………………………... 36 Sample Collection ………………………………………………………………………… 37 Prey Samples ……………………………………………………………………………… 39 Molecular Sexing Protocol ……………………………………………………………….. 40 Stable Isotope Analysis …………………………………………………………………… 41 Data Analysis ……………………………………………………………………………... 42 Results ………………………………………………………………..…………….……….…….. 43 Incubation …………………………………………………………………………….…… 43 Pre-molt ………………………………………………………………………..…..……… 46 Prey ……………………………….……………………………………………………….. 51 vi Discussion ………………………………………………………………………………….……… 52 δ13C …………………………………………………………………………………….….. 52 δ15N ………………………………………………………………………………………... 54 Conclusions ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 56 References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 58 Appendix A: Approval letter from the Office of Research Integrity……………………………..……………….….74 Appendix B: Review of stomach content analysis research……………………………………………………….….75 Appendix C: Review of fecal DNA research…………..……………………………………………………….……..76 Appendix D: Review of stable isotope research…………………………………………………..……………..……77 Appendix E: Review of tracking research………………………………………………. .……..…………………….78 Appendix F: Fiordland penguin blood isotope values………………………………………………………………...79 Appendix G: Fiordland penguin feather isotope values………………………………………………………………80 Appendix H: Connecting letter report for feather isotopes by year……………………………………....…………...81 vii LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Morphological parameters assessed in tawaki………………………………………….………... 27 Table 2. Cutoff values and variable importance for morphological parameters………………................... 29 Table 3. Secondary isotopic reference materials (SIRMs)………………………………...………...……. 42 viii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Principle components analysis of morphological parameters……………………….…... 27 Figure 2. Boxplots of morphological parameters measured………………………………….……. 28 Figure 3. The recursive partitioning tree of foot length…………………………………………… 29 Figure 4. Map of field sites on the South Island…………………………………………………... 37 Figure 5. Tawaki annual cycle…………………………………………………………………….. 39 Figure 6. Mean tawaki blood isotope values by colony…………………………………………… 43 Figure 7. Boxplots of δ13C and δ15N values derived from whole blood during incubation by colony……………………………………………………………………………….……………... 44 Figure 8. Boxplots of δ13C and δ15N values derived from whole blood between sexes during the incubation period…………………………………………………………………………….….…. 45 Figure 9. Boxplots of δ13C and δ15N values derived from whole blood between years (2017 - 2018) during the incubation period……………………………………………………………..……..….. 46 Figure 10. Mean tawaki feather isotope values by colony………………………………………… 47 Figure 11. Boxplots of δ13C and δ15N values derived from feathers among colonies during the pre- molt period………………………………………………………………………………….……… 48 Figure 12. Boxplots of δ13C and δ15N values derived from feathers between sexes during the pre- molt period……………………………………………………………………………………….… 49 Figure 13. Boxplots of δ13C and δ15N values derived from feathers among years during the pre-molt period…………………………………………………………………………………….…………