Food-searching behaviour of the common merganser (Mergus merganser) I: Functional responses to prey and predator density

Abstract

The hunting performance of the common merganser (Mergus merganser) was evaluated in relation to prey density and merganser flock size by stocking three enclosed sections of a natural stream with known densities of juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). Two size classes of coho were stocked: smolt averaging 43 g at densities of 0.02–0.65/m2, fry averaging 2 g at 0.08–1.6/m2 and various mixtures of smolt and fry at a combined density of 0.65/m2. The stream enclosures differed in the amount of cover available to fish. Mergansers were less successful at capturing coho smolt or fry in the enclosures wth cover from undercut banks. Smolt exposed to mergansers earlier that day were less vulnerable than smolt with no previous exposure. The feeding success of individual mergansers was not significantly affected by flock size for flocks of 25 birds or less. A smoothly asymptotic functional response (type II) was observed under all experimental conditions. Coho smolt were selected over coho fry. It is concluded that a merganser's average daily food requirement (ca. 400 g) can be satisfied at smolt densities of 0.02–0.30/m2 depending on the availability of cover for smolt and their previous exposure to mergansers.