Trophic niche width, offspring condition and immunity in a raptor species

Abstract

Strategies developed by organisms to maximize foraging efficiency have a strong influence on fitness. The way in which the range of food resources is exploited has served to classify species, populations and individuals from more specialist (narrow trophic niche) to more generalist (broad trophic niche). Recent studies have provided evidence that many of the considered generalist species/populations are actually composed of different specialist individuals (individual specialization). Even the existence of generalism as an adaptive strategy has been questioned. In this study, we investigated the relationship between trophic niche width, individual quality and offspring viability in a population of common kestrel Falco tinnunculus during 4 years. We showed that the diet of kestrels varied significantly among years and that individuals of better quality fed their offspring with a higher diversity of prey species and a higher amount of food. Moreover, body condition and immune response of nestlings were positively correlated with diversity of prey delivered by parents. Our study suggests that generalism has the potential to increase fitness and that broadening the trophic niche may be an adaptive strategy in unpredictable environments.