Diet Composition of Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) and Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) at Isles Dernieres Barrier Island Refuge, Louisiana, USA

Abstract

The Isles Dernieres Barrier Island Refuge in Louisiana, USA, constitutes a major colonial waterbird breeding site, and several restoration projects have been undertaken to sustain waterbird populations on the refuge. However, very little is known about food resources that colonial waterbirds depend on in the Gulf of Mexico. Royal (Thalasseus maximus) and Sandwich (T. sandvicensis) tern diet composition was investigated to determine important food resources during the breeding period. Regurgitated prey items in the 2013 and 2014 breeding seasons were used to compare diet composition, prey item frequency, and prey item mass among four groups: Royal Tern adults, Royal Tern chicks, Sandwich Tern adults, and Sandwich Tern chicks. The two most frequent prey items were Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) and bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli). Royal Tern adults consumed significantly more Sciaenids than any other tern group, and Sandwich Tern adults consumed more Engraulids than any other tern group. Royal and Sandwich tern adults partitioned food resources by prey species and prey size, while chick diet showed more overlap in prey species composition. Royal and Sandwich tern diet closely reflected the species composition of trawls from nearby waters, suggesting opportunistic prey selection. The diets of both tern species contained a variety of demersal prey items indicating use of discards from local fisheries activities. Interactions between breeding waterbirds and fisheries in coastal Louisiana may be an important conservation consideration with profound implications on breeding abundance and breeding success of waterbirds.