Data from: A comparative analysis of the behavioral response to fishing boats in two albatross species

Anthropogenic food resources have significantly modified the foraging behavior of many animal species. They enhance large multi-specific aggregations of individuals, with strong ecological consequences. It is challenging to predict how individuals or species can differ in their reaction to these resources. For instance, there are wide variations in seabird species abundance behind fishing boats, and individual variations in interaction rates. Whether this is reflecting variations in fine-scale encounter rates or rather variations in attraction strength is poorly quantified. Here we compare the response of Wandering (WA) and Black-browed (BBA) albatrosses to fishing boats operating in sub-Antarctic waters. We use GPS tracking data from both birds and boats (Vessel Monitoring System). Attraction distances were similar between the 2 species (up to 30 km). BBA foraged further from fishing grounds and encountered boats less frequently than WA, but once they encountered a boat BBA were more strongly attracted (80% vs. 60% chance) and had a higher level of active interaction, compared to WA. Furthermore, in the absence of boats, BBA were rarely observed foraging over the habitat where the fisheries mainly operate, in contrast with WA. We thus report qualitative and quantitative differences in the response of these 2 species to the same fishing fleet. WA, the larger, more dominant and more generalist species was unexpectedly less attracted to fishing vessels. Comparing our results with previously published studies, we suggest that energetic requirements of individuals may be a crucial predictor for assessing risks of interactions with anthropogenic food resources.

人为食物资源（Anthropogenic food resources）已显著改变了诸多动物类群的觅食行为。此类资源能够催生大规模的多物种个体聚集群，并引发强烈的生态效应。然而，预测不同个体或物种对这类资源的反应差异颇具挑战。例如，渔船后方的海鸟物种丰度存在显著差异，个体间的互动频率也各不相同。目前尚缺乏足够量化的研究来阐明，这种差异究竟反映的是精细尺度下的遭遇率变化，还是吸引强度的差异。本研究对比了漂泊信天翁（Wandering, WA）与黑眉信天翁（Black-browed, BBA）对亚南极海域作业渔船的响应。我们采用了两类GPS追踪数据：鸟类个体的定位数据与渔船的船舶监控系统（Vessel Monitoring System）数据。两类物种的吸引距离相近，均可达30公里。黑眉信天翁的觅食区域距渔场更远，遭遇渔船的频率也低于漂泊信天翁；但一旦遭遇渔船，黑眉信天翁的吸引强度更高（互动概率为80%，漂泊信天翁为60%），且主动互动的程度也更强。此外，在无渔船的情况下，黑眉信天翁极少在渔业主要作业的栖息地觅食，而漂泊信天翁则与之相反。综上，本研究揭示了这两个物种对同一捕捞船队的响应在定性与定量层面均存在差异。体型更大、更具统治性且食性更泛化的漂泊信天翁，对渔船的吸引力反而更低，这一结果出乎预期。将本研究结果与已发表的相关研究对比后，我们提出，个体的能量需求或许是评估与人为食物资源互动风险的关键预测因子。