Ashmole's halo: direct evidence for prey depletion by a seabird

Montevecchi, William A. and Birt, V. L. and Birt, T. P. and Goulet, D. and Cairns, D. K. (1987) Ashmole's halo: direct evidence for prey depletion by a seabird. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 40. pp. 205-208. ISSN 1616-1599

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Abstract

Fish population densities were measured at various instances from 2 large colonies of double-crested cormorants Phalacrocorax auritus to test the hypothesis that seabirds deplete prey close to their colonies. Fish densities were significantly lower in bays used by cormorants for feeding than in those outside their foraging range. Our findings provide direct evidence for prey depletion, and support Ashmole's (1963)hypothesis that seabird populations are limited by food supplies during the breeding season. ).

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