Environmental heterogeneity decreases reproductive success via effects on foraging behaviour

Environmental heterogeneity shapes the uneven distribution of resources available to foragers, and is ubiquitous in nature. Optimal foraging theory predicts that an animal’s ability to exploit resource patches is key to foraging success. However, the potential fitness costs and benefits of foraging in a heterogeneous environment are difficult to measure empirically. Heterogeneity may provide higher quality foraging opportunities, or alternatively could increase the cost of resource acquisition because of reduced patch density or increased competition. Here, we study the influence of physical environmental heterogeneity on behaviour and reproductive success of black-legged kittiwakes, Rissa tridactyla. From GPS tracking data at 15 colonies throughout their British and Irish breeding range, we found that environments that were physically more heterogeneous were associated with longer trip duration, more time spent actively foraging whilst away from the colony, increased overlap of foragin...

环境异质性塑造了觅食者可获取资源的不均等分布，且在自然界中广泛存在。最优觅食理论（Optimal foraging theory）指出，动物开发资源斑块的能力是觅食成功的关键。然而，在异质性环境中觅食所带来的潜在适合度成本与收益，却难以通过实证手段进行量化。异质性或许能提供更高质量的觅食机会，也可能因斑块密度降低或竞争加剧而提升资源获取的成本。本研究聚焦于物理环境异质性对黑腿三趾鸥（black-legged kittiwakes，学名*Rissa tridactyla*）的行为与繁殖成功率的影响。我们基于其在英国与爱尔兰繁殖分布区内15个繁殖群的GPS追踪数据展开分析，结果发现，物理异质性更高的环境与更长的觅食行程时长、离巢期间更多的主动觅食时长，以及更高的觅食重叠度相关……