Foraging behavior of Brazilian cormorant, Nannopterum brasilianus (Suliformes: Phalacrocoracidae)

• Published in: Zoologia (Curitiba, Brazil) Vol. 35; pp. 1 - 4
• Main Authors: Gheler-Costa, Carla, Comin, Fabio Henrique, Gilli, Letícia C., Verdade, Luciano M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Curitiba Sociedade Brasileira de Zoologia 01.01.2018
• Subjects: Animal behavior; Artificial ponds; Birds; Brazil; Divers; Diving; Educational institutions; environment; Fish; Food; Food biology; food stealing; Foods; Foraging; Foraging behavior; foraging success; Optimal foraging; Phalacrocoracidae; Predation; Seabirds; social behavior; Vertebrates; wading birds; ZOOLOGY; Brazil; food stealing; wading birds; foraging success; social behavior; Food biology
• ISSN: 1984-4689; 1984-4670; 1984-4689
• DOI: 10.3897/zoologia.35.e14664

Although the concept of optimal foraging has been extensively discussed, foraging efficiency is difficult to assess in vertebrates. In this study, we determined the foraging efficiency of the Brazilian cormorant, Nannopterumbrasilianus Gmelin, 1789, by the direct, ad libitum observation of a group of four to thirteen individuals in an artificial pond at the University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Although this study was carried out in a highly anthropic environment, we can still conclude that the Brazilian cormorant is a relatively efficient browser and short-term diver. In anthropic environments, foraging success depends on the amount of time these birds spend diving, and stealing food is less common. Stealing occurs at relatively low rates but tends to be an efficient way to get food.