Diet of Surf Scoters Molting in Eastern North America
Project Number: 92
Year Funded: 2007
Lead Institution(s): Dalhousie University
Project Lead: Suzanne Budge
Collaborator(s): Scott Gilliland (CWS)
Location: Atlantic Flyway
Focal Species: Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)
Project Description: The diet of molting Surf Scoters has not been previously described, and there is no information on the contributions of diet vs. endogenous reserves to the overall energy budget of Surf Scoters during molt. Documenting the contributions that diet and nutrient reserves play in the energy budget will increase our understanding of the importance of local food sources as one of the factors responsible for habitat selection in Surf Scoters. The first objective of this study was to document the fatty acid composition and stable-isotope (carbon and nitrogen) signatures of various tissue of molting Surf Scoters (adipose, liver, breast muscle and feathers) and their potential prey items. The second objective was to assess the feasibility of using these data to delineate the origin (terrestrial vs. marine) of nutrient reserves upon arrival of Surf Scoters to molting areas. The final objective was to compare stable-isotope levels in growing feathers to levels in muscle tissue and prey items to evaluate the potential use of feathers for identifying affiliations with the molting area.
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