Cormorant Phalacrocorax Research Articles

Оцінка впливу на рибні ресурси Азовського моря популяції великого баклана (Phalaсrocorax carbo sinensis Shaw et Nodder, 1801) коси Обитічна

Purpose. Assessment of the impact of the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) on fish resources of the Sea of Azov and determination of dietary needs and feeding habits of this species during its nesting period on the Obytichna Spit (Zaporizhzhia region). Methodology. The study is based on field materials collected between 2015 and 2017 on the Obytichna Spit (Berdyansk district, Zaporizhzhia region). Data collection and processing were carried out according to generally accepted methods. The analysis of food samples was conducted by collecting regurgitations within the nesting colony and by analyzing the stomach contents of cormorants (n = 50) obtained from individuals eliminated by employees of the State Enterprise “Prymors’k Forestry” during planned population control measures. Based on these analyses, the daily fish consumption of the cormorant colony was estimated over the annual period, and the ratio of fish removed by cormorants to the official fish catch by fishermen was also analyzed. Statistical data processing was carried out using MS Excel. Findings. The study showed that the diet of the great cormorant in the Obytichna Spit area consisted of eight fish species, with the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus Pallas, 1814) and the monkey goby (Neogobius fluviatilis Pallas, 1814) being dominant. The total fish consumption by the cormorant colony on the Obytichna Spit amounts to 9563.75 tons per season. The impact of cormorants on fish resources in the northwestern Azov region is significant, accounting for 26.39% of the annual fish catch in 2016, and almost half (43.37%) of the annual fishermen’s catch for gobies, which form the basis of the cormorants’ diet in this colony. Originality. For the first time, detailed quantitative estimates of the daily fish consumption by a large colony of cormorants in the context of the species’ nesting at the Obytichna Spit were provided, particularly considering changes in the size structure of the prey in different years. Practical value. The obtained data can be used for managing fish resources and developing measures to minimize conflicts between fisheries and the great cormorant population in the Azov-Black Sea region of Ukraine. Additionally, the results of the study are successfully applied in the work of higher education institutions in Ukraine during the teaching of natural sciences for specialties 014.05 Secondary Education (Biology and Human Health), 091 Biology and Biochemistry and 101 Ecology. Keywords: fish resources, Sea of Azov, ecological impact, great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis (Shaw et Nodder, 1801), diet.

Development of the Rybinsk Reservoir by the Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo in Russia, 1941– 2024

Development of the Rybinsk Reservoir by the Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo in Russia, 1941– 2024

Helminth Fauna of the Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo in Lake Ladoga, Northwestern Russia

Helminth Fauna of the Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo in Lake Ladoga, Northwestern Russia

Spatial consistency affects foraging effort in a benthic diving seabird, the Black‐faced Cormorant

For animals which exploit predictable food resources, greater foraging site fidelity has been hypothesized to lead to increased foraging efficiency. However, evidence for this in free‐ranging species is limited. In the present study, foraging site fidelity, the factors influencing it and its effect on foraging effort were investigated in the Black‐faced Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscescens, a predominantly benthic forager occurring in southeastern Australia. While the study population was found to have a relatively large foraging range, individuals were highly consistent in the smaller foraging areas which they used. Foraging effort was lower in individuals with a higher foraging site fidelity, which is likely to indicate increased foraging efficiency. Foraging site fidelity differed greatly between individuals but none of the assessed factors (sex, mass, size or year of study) were found to have a significant influence. This might indicate that intrinsic factors which could not be assessed, such as personality or experience, may influence the degree to which individuals exploit known habitats. The findings suggest that changes in prey availability or distribution could result in reduced foraging efficiency and, consequently, negative impacts for the species. Further investigation is required to assess within‐individual foraging plasticity to predict potential responses to changing prey availability and distribution.

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) epidemics in Baltic Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo colonies in 2021 and 2022

ABSTRACT Capsule Over 1,700 Great Cormorants died from H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at 11 breeding colonies in the Baltic Sea region, and one in the North Sea, in summer 2021 and 2022. Aim To determine the nature and impacts of the 2021/2022 HPAI outbreaks on Great Cormorants in the Baltic Sea region. Methods We collected data on HPAI outbreaks in Baltic Great Cormorant colonies through questionnaires, national virological and serological surveys, and avian influenza surveillance databases to better understand the 2021/2022 outbreak. Results The HPAI H5 clade 2.3.4.4b (goose/Guangdong lineage) caused mortality in five Great Cormorant breeding colonies in Denmark, three in Germany, two in Sweden and single outbreaks in Estonia and Latvia (all ground-nesting colonies). HPAI H5 monitoring of Great Cormorants in Germany since 2006 showed an increasing prevalence from 2022. Great Cormorant H5N1 viruses belonged to a genotype circulating in wild ducks since 2021. After 2021/2022 morbidity and no subsequent outbreaks, breeding colony sizes returned to above-normal levels in 2023. Conclusion After H5N1 HPAI outbreaks in 11 exclusively ground-nesting colonies of Great Cormorants in the Baltic Sea (and one in the North Sea) in 2022, breeding numbers recovered in 2023. Lack of subsequent mortality suggested immunity, but serological investigations are needed to determine the prevalence of protective antibodies in this and other coastal birds.

Ecosystem based approach to assess the impact of invasive or expanding species in the lower Saône River

The spread of invasive alien species is identified as one of the most important threats to freshwater ecosystems as they can modify their trophic structure, biomass and flows. The lower Saône River is one of the most biologically productive waterways in France. It has been in strong interaction with a wide range of human activities such as fisheries for at least three millennia. To implement an ecosystem based approach, an Ecopath static trophic model was used for the first time in this river to quantify the role of three invasive or expanding species over two contrasted periods (1988–1993 and 1994–2005). The parameters used in the model integrate on the one hand catch data from fishers (professional, amateur fishing gear users, and anglers), and on the other hand the available literature data on species biomass, diet and the expert assessments of scientists and managers. Species such as the filtering Asian clam Corbicula fluminea may explain the triggering of the ecosystem shift towards a functioning where summer phytoplankton blooms are rarer. In the high trophic levels, the great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo appears to have low trophic impact while the development of a large population of European catfish Silurus glanis has a strong effect, maintaining important trophic flows in the ecosystem in substitution for the decrease in angling landings.

Morphological and molecular data on acuariid nematodes in European great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) and pygmy cormorants (Microcarbo pygmaeus)

The family Acuariidae is a speciose group of parasitic nematodes, infecting mostly birds as definitive hosts. This study focused on the characterization of two species of acuariids, collected in two different species of piscivorous birds, the European great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis from Italy, and the pygmy cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus from Israel. Parasites were analyzed using light and scanning electron microscopy and by amplification and sequencing of the 28S rDNA. The results of morphological and molecular analyses showed that Ph. carbo sinensis was infected by the acuariid Syncuaria squamata (12 females) and Cosmocephalus obvelatus (1 female), whereas M. pygmaeus was infected by C. obvelatus (2 males, 12 females). The present results provide new data on the distribution of acuariid parasites of piscivorous birds, the first report of Acuariidae in Israel, and the first molecular data on S. squamata and C. obvelatus, which will be useful in future epidemiological and phylogenetic studies of these widely distributed, but less molecularly studied parasites.

Combining biometrics and genetics to distinguish two subspecies of the Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo carbo and P. c. sinensis at an inland lake in southeast Norway

Cover photo: Adult Great Cormorant of the subspecies Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis in breeding plumage. Photo: Frode Falkenberg. Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo are now regularly seen in inland watercourses in southeast Norway, after the P. c. sinensis subspecies first established breeding colonies in coastal south Norway in 1996. Although both the sinensis and carbo subspecies occur, the ratio between them is unknown. We tested the accuracy of subspecific identification based on biometrics and genetic analyses in 75 Great Cormorants that drowned in fishing nets in a lake in southeast Norway during the period 2009-2020. Primarily based on the gular pouch angle (GPA), we classified 40 individuals to the carbo subspecies and 35 individuals to the sinensis subspecies. Eight of the carbo individuals and 14 of the sinensis individuals were within the overlapping range of GPA and were therefore classified to subspecies by supplementary measurements (bill depth minimum and bill length). Genetic analyses were based on seven polymorphic microsatellite markers. Assuming one panmictic population, we performed Structure analyses to separate the genotypes into two assumed genetic clusters. The two clusters, carbo and sinensis, could only be separated when adding information about morphological subspecies identities for the carbo, sinensis and carbo/sinensis groups. The sinensis and the carbo/sinensis groups belonged almost entirely to one genetic cluster, whereas the carbo group consisted of individuals with varying proportions of mixed ancestry. Furthermore, we found significant genetic differentiation between the carbo and sinensis groups, and between the carbo and the carbo/sinensis groups, but no significant differentiation between the sinensis and the carbo/sinensis groups. Our results suggest that gene flow is more common from sinensis into carbo than vice-versa, and that the use of GPA < 73° has limitations for the identification of Great Cormorant subspecies in areas where both forms occur. We conclude that the numbers of carbo vs. sinensis individuals in our sample were 32 and 43, respectively.

Amino acid-specific isotopes reveal changing five-dimensional niche segregation in Pacific seabirds over 50 years

Hutchison’s niche theory suggests that coexisting competing species occupy non-overlapping hypervolumes, which are theoretical spaces encompassing more than three dimensions, within an n-dimensional space. The analysis of multiple stable isotopes can be used to test these ideas where each isotope can be considered a dimension of niche space. These hypervolumes may change over time in response to variation in behaviour or habitat, within or among species, consequently changing the niche space itself. Here, we use isotopic values of carbon and nitrogen of ten amino acids, as well as sulphur isotopic values, to produce multi-isotope models to examine niche segregation among an assemblage of five coexisting seabird species (ancient murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus, double-crested cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus, Leach’s storm-petrel Oceanodrama leucorhoa, rhinoceros auklet Cerorhinca monocerata, pelagic cormorant Phalacrocorax pelagicus) that inhabit coastal British Columbia. When only one or two isotope dimensions were considered, the five species overlapped considerably, but segregation increased in more dimensions, but often in complex ways. Thus, each of the five species occupied their own isotopic hypervolume (niche), but that became apparent only when factoring the increased information from sulphur and amino acid specific isotope values, rather than just relying on proxies of δ15N and δ13C alone. For cormorants, there was reduction of niche size for both species consistent with a decline in their dominant prey, Pacific herring Clupea pallasii, from 1970 to 2006. Consistent with niche theory, cormorant species showed segregation across time, with the double-crested demonstrating a marked change in diet in response to prey shifts in a higher dimensional space. In brief, incorporating multiple isotopes (sulfur, PC1 of δ15N [baselines], PC2 of δ15N [trophic position], PC1 and PC2 of δ13C) metrics allowed us to infer changes and differences in food web topology that were not apparent from classic carbon–nitrogen biplots.

Waterbird community changes in the Wilderness Lakes, South Africa (Part 3 of 3): Diving piscivores and scavengers

Estuarine waterbodies typically support diverse and abundant waterbird communities. However, global environmental degradation as a result of anthropogenic activities is leading to species level changes in biodiversity, with top predators such as piscivorous waterbirds being particularly vulnerable to ecosystem changes. The study aimed to document long-term spatial and temporal patterns of abundance of piscivorous and scavenging waterbirds in the Wilderness Lakes Complex (WLC) in the Garden Route National Park, South Africa, and where possible identify potential causes for observed trends. The abundance of waterbirds on these wetlands was determined biannually from 1992 to 2019, with counts conducted from a boat following a standardised route. Historical waterbird abundance data from the 1980s were also used to describe long-term abundance changes. Eight of the species exhibited seasonal variability in abundance with most, excluding Common Tern Sterna hirundo, being more abundant in winter. Substantial changes occurred in the abundance of several species over the four-decade study period, notably increases in Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis and Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus, and decreases in Common Tern and Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis. Long-term abundance trends indicate a combination of declining, increasing, and stable populations. Although some species have undergone contrasting abundance changes on different waterbodies in the WLC the dominant pattern was a similar direction of change on most or all waterbodies and in different seasons. Local reasons for changes probably include loss of sandbanks, changing prey availability, and the absence of recreational disturbance on some waterbodies.Conservation implications: Drivers of changes in the abundances of piscivores are likely to be multifaceted, functioning on multiple spatial and temporal scales, and affecting different species in different ways. Recommended local corrective actions include managing emergent macrophyte encroachment on sandbanks, reducing recreational disturbance, managing processes affecting indigenous fish stocks, and protecting nesting sites.

Arnthor Gardarsson 1938–2022

Professor Arnthor Gardarsson (1938–2022) was an Icelandic ornithologist who made a major contribution to the studies of the bird fauna of Iceland and to the ecology of waterfowl and wetland conservation. After finishing a BSc in Zoology from the University of Bristol in 1962 he went to the University of California, Berkeley, for a PhD project under the supervision of Professor Frank A. Pitelka. His project, finished in 1971, was about the population and feeding ecology of the Icelandic Ptarmigan Lagopus muta islandorum. In 1971–73, working with the Icelandic Museum of Natural History, he conducted a research programme on the ecology of the Thjorsarver area. This tundra oasis in the otherwise desert-like Icelandic highlands harboured the world's largest breeding colony of the Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus and was under serious threat by hydropower development. A part of this ecosystem-oriented study involved aerial surveys of birds, a method that was to become one of Arnthor's signature research tools. Waterfowl held a special place in Arnthor's heart. The opportunity to study them in detail came in 1974 when Lake Myvatn, the world-renowned waterfowl site in Iceland, was defined as a nature reserve. This was in the wake of a heated debate over a hydropower project that would have fundamentally altered the lake's ecology. In 1974, Arnthor became professor in zoology at the new biology department of the University of Iceland and he promptly focused his academic research effort on Lake Myvatn. The idea was to monitor the ecological situation of the lake by studying its many duck populations. Despite the newly acquired protection status, there was concern about ongoing industrial sediment extraction from the lake (continuing till 2004). Arnthor's efforts, with students and collaborators, soon developed into a full-scale ecological study of the lake's foodweb, benefiting from his deep insight into ecological processes. His research revealed immense fluctuations in the Lake Myvatn ecosystem, that still occur and continue to attract scientific interest. The studies resulted in a series of classic papers, demonstrating how the variable abundance of aquatic insects and crustaceans in a lake determined duckling production and subsequent changes in breeding populations. It was Arnthor's ambition to obtain a comprehensive picture of the bird populations of Iceland, their distribution, size, production, resources, and trends. It was a gargantuan task, considering the size, remoteness and ruggedness of the landscape and the sheer number of birds. But Arnthor was a daredevil who was quick to apply aerial surveys to the mapping and photographing of all the important bird areas, both coastal and inland, and he kept seeking new techniques to this effect. Estimating bird densities in the immense, towering seabird colonies of northwest Iceland was his biggest challenge. His final solution was to fly low over and then off the cliff edge, taking a rapid succession of photographs with a large-format camera aimed slightly backwards – a rather risky undertaking with the myriad of fast-flying birds around. His aerial endeavours, backed up by field studies, resulted in comprehensive population estimates of alcids, Black-legged Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla, Northern Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis, Northern Gannets Morus bassanus, European Shags Gulosus aristotelis, Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo, Common Eiders Somateria mollissima and other ducks, swans, geese and even passing migratory waders such as Red Knots Calidris canutus, Ruddy Turnstones Arenaria interpres and Sanderlings Calidris alba. Later he extended the surveying to cover all the Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica colonies of Iceland and developed methods to monitor seabird trends via ground-based observations. Arnthor also used his skills to reveal the details of the population dynamics of European Shags and Great Cormorants in the Breidafjördur archipelago, their central stronghold in Iceland. Spring field trips with his students to the impressive seabird colonies in the northwest of Iceland made an enduring impact on many, who are now continuing and expanding the monitoring work on birds in marine, freshwater and terrestrial habitats all over Iceland. Arnthor served as a chairman of the Nature Conservation Council in 1990–96, a government advisory body that also managed protected areas. Through this he became a leading figure in the protection of many of the ecosystems he had studied, in particular Thjorsarver and Myvatn, the crown jewels of inland wetland sites in Iceland. In addition to his extensive ornithological skills, Arnthor had a fascination for terrestrial and marine invertebrates, polychaetes in particular, and he was proficient in botany. He was also artistic and made a name for himself at a young age when illustrating papers on bird life. Arnthor's character may be described as an attractive mix of generousity, ambition and shyness, as well as being humble, friendly and joyful. In 1959 Arnthor married Gudrun Sveinbjarnardóttir (1937–2016), an economist from Reykjavik. They had two children, Soffia and Thrandur.

DNA Barcoding Reveals Occurrence of Cardiocephaloides sp. (Digenea: Strigeidae) Infecting the Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (L. 1758) in Mwanza Gulf, Lake Victoria

Cormorants (Pelecaniformes) are widely distributed worldwide, occurring as coastal birds in inland waters and marine environments, and have been implicated in the transmission of some aquatic parasites. As such, the objective of the present work was to investigate the occurrence and morphological variations in Cardiocephaloides (Digenea: Strigeidae), parasites of the great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo. The Cardiocephaloides specimens used for molecular analysis (DNA barcoding (cox1) region) were obtained from the intestines of the great cormorants collected from Mwanza Gulf in Lake Victoria. Morphological examination of Cardiocephaloides specimens showed the possible co-existence of four morphospecies belonging to the genus Cardiocephaloides. However, detailed analyses of the cox1 sequences, phylogeny and haplotypes revealed that all four morphospecies belonged to a single unknown species of Cardiocephaloides. This paper provides the first report on the great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, serving as the definitive host for Cardiocephaloides in freshwater systems. The findings also reveal that the diversity of Cardiocephaloides in Africa is higher than earlier reported. Moreover, it highlights the need for more research in Tanzania to divulge snail and fish species involved in the life cycles of digenean species occurring in birds and other vertebrates in aquatic environments.
 Keywords: Digenean trematodes; Strigeidae; Phalacrocorax carbo; Cardiocephaloides; cox1

From social networks to bird enthusiasts: reporting interactions between plastic waste and birds in Peru

SummaryPeru has the second-highest diversity of birds in the world, but little is known about the interactions between birds and plastic waste. To fill this knowledge gap, we searched the scientific literature, collected information from social networks such as Facebook and databases such as Macaulay Library and iNaturalist and solicited records through messaging with researchers and bird enthusiasts. We found 119 bird interactions with plastic debris involving 39 species from 20 families, with the red-legged cormorant Phalacrocorax gaimardi and the neotropical cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus being the most affected species. By type of interaction category, plastic waste in nests was the most abundant, followed by entanglement, capture and handling and ingestion. Ropes, nets and soft plastics such as bags were the most frequently reported types of waste. As our methodology has limitations, it is probable that other species that also interact with plastic waste have not been reported, so we recommend further study.

Identification of Contracaecum rudolphii (Nematoda: Anisakidae) in Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis (Blumenbach, 1978) from Southern Italy

In this study, four dead great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis (Blumenbach, 1978) specimens, collected from the coasts and lakes of Southern Italy, were examined by necropsy for the detection of Contraceacum sp. The adults and larvae found were subjected to morphological analysis and molecular identification by PCR-RFLP. A total of 181 Contracaecum specimens were detected in all of the four great cormorants examined (prevalence = 100%), showing an intensity of infestation between nine and ninety-two. A co-infestation by adult and larval forms of Contracaecum rudolphii was found only in one of the great cormorants examined. Following molecular investigations, 48 specimens of C. rudolphii A and 38 specimens of C. rudolphii B were detected, revealing co-infestation solely for the great cormorant from Leporano Bay (Southern Italy). Our results showed an opposite ratio between C. rudolphii A and C. rudolphii B in Pantelleria and in Salso Lake (Southern Italy) compared to what was reported in the literature, probably due to migratory stopovers and the ecology of the infested fish species, confirming the role of Contracaecum nematodes as ecological tags of their hosts.

Description of Sarcocystis platyrhynchosi n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) from domestic ducks Anas platyrhynchos (Anseriformes: Anatidae) in China

BackgroundLimited data are currently available on protozoan parasites of the genus Sarcocystis that infect their avian hosts within the order Anseriformes (waterfowl). To date, no Sarcocystis species has been recorded in ducks in China.MethodsLeg muscles were sampled from 26 domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) in China in 2021. Morphological characteristics of sarcocysts detected in the muscle tissue were described using light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Genomic DNA was extracted from single sarcocysts obtained from different ducks, and three genetic markers, 18S ribosomal DNA (18S rDNA), 28S ribosomal DNA (28S rDNA) and mitochondrial (mt) cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), were amplified and cloned for sequence analyses.ResultsSarcocysts were observed by LM in only three of the 28 samples (10.7%). These sarcocysts had a thick cyst wall with numerous brush-like villar protrusions (vps) of 3.8–4.3 μm in length (n = 30) on the cyst surface. TEM observation showed that the sarcocysts had lanceolated vps. Each vps narrowed in the stalk and contained a bundle of microtubules that extended into the ground substance. Comparisons of the new sequences with those deposited in GenBank showed that the most similar sequences were those of Sarcocystishalieti in the great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo and European starling Sturnus vulgaris, and Sarcocystis calchasi in the domestic pigeon (Columba livia) at the 18S rDNA (99.1% identity); Sarcocystiswenzeli from the domestic chicken Gallus gallus at the 28S rDNA (95.9–96.0% identity); and Sarcocystis speeri from the opossum at the mtcox1 (98.2% identity). The new 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA and mitochondrial cox1 sequences shared up to 99.0%, 95.6% and 97.7% identity, respectively, with those of Sarcocystis spp. obtained from Anseriformes avian hosts. Phylogenetic analysis inferred from the sequences of the three genetic markers placed the organism within a group of Sarcocystis spp. obtained from avian or carnivorous intermediate hosts and avian, marsupial or carnivorous definitive hosts. Based on the morphological observation and molecular analyses, the organism found in the Chinese domestic ducks was regarded as a new species and named Sarcocystis platyrhynchosi n. sp.ConclusionsBased on morphology and sequence analyses, the microcysts diagnosed in the domestic ducks examined in this study were named as a new species. This is the first record of Sarcocystis spp. from waterfowl in China. Sarcocysts of similar morphology occur frequently in different Anseriformes birds, and the relationships among these species need to be further clarified in future studies using more molecular markers.Graphical

Long-term monitoring of pelicans in National Chambal Sanctuary, India

Monitoring of Gharial Gavialis gangeticus in National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS) since 1983 has resulted in collection of data on other ecological associates, located between 25.8474–26.4389 0N, 76.5645–79.2132 0E. One such beneficiary of this long term monitoring program are the pelicans, locally called ‘Hawaseel’. Pelican species visiting Chambal from November to March include the Dalmatian Pelecanus crispus, Great White Pelecanus onocrotalus, and Spot-billed Pelecanus philippensis. Species-wise separation of pelicans at the sites of congregation is often difficult. The total number of pelicans counted during the annual census from 2003 to 2016 was 4,429. The study area extends over 435 km comprising 12 study zones, 99% counts were made in the study zones X, XI and XII. These zones stretch over 115 km that occur near the confluence of Chambal with river Yamuna. Here, the river is deep. Other large birds seen with the pelican squadrons are groups of Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala, Nakta or Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos, and the Greylag Goose Anser anser. Other large birds seen on the riverbanks were the Common Crane Grus grus, Sarus Crane Grus antigon, Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus species, and Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo. The study provides a baseline about the population of pelicans and the availability of large wetland birds in NCS. The biodiversity significance of NCS got highlighted because of the ongoing gharial conservation programme. The Chambal River Sanctuary is a composite unit of several un-notified ‘core areas’. The sanctuary fulfills six of the nine criteria for possible consideration as an international Ramsar Wetland.

Initial evaluation of the care and rehabilitation success of Cape Cormorants Phalacrocorax capensis rescued from Robben and Jutten islands, South Africa, in January 2021

The population of the endangered Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis more than halved over the last three decades (BirdLife International 2018a). In January 2021, nearly 2 000 Cape Cormorant chicks were found abandoned, suffering from dehydration and heat stress, at two important nesting sites. The chicks were rescued and rehabilitated by the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB, Cape Town, South Africa). About half (53.7%) of the cormorant chicks were successfully rehabilitated and released back into the breeding colonies. This study found a direct link between the initial body mass of cormorant chicks admitted to the rehabilitation centre and their probability of surviving during rehabilitation, with birds that were initially heavier having a greater probability of eventual release. Most cormorant chicks that died (80.7%) did so within the first 5 days of admission. This rescue required SANCCOB to care for and rehabilitate the largest number of Cape Cormorant chicks that has ever been admitted to its rehabilitation centre at one time, making it the first rescue of its kind. Despite the presumably limited positive impact on overall population numbers of Cape Cormorants, the rescue campaign improved SANCCOB’s preparedness to respond successfully to future disaster events and to deal with different species, both locally and globally.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Japanese Cormorant Phalacrocorax capillatus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1850) (Suliformes: Phalacrocoracidae)

The complete sequencing of mitochondrial DNA of the Japanese Cormorant Phalacrocorax capillatus was performed using long PCR and primer walking methods. The assembled genome was 19,105 bp in length. It contained 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and two control regions. The phylogenetic analysis using the obtained sequence showed that P. capillatus is closest to P. carbo.

Practical Approaches for Providing Empirical Data on Seabird Behavior and Prey Assemblages in Tidal Channels

Persisting knowledge gaps relating to the ecological context and potential environmental impacts of marine renewable energy (MRE) devices continue to add substantial costs and uncertainty to MRE projects globally. Increasingly sophisticated technological approaches to environmental monitoring can have fundamental non-trivial shortcomings for environmental impact assessment (EIA), whilst substantial practical and financial costs of deployments can prevent their application. For the tidal stream energy (TSE) sector, there is a need for practical and cost-effective methods that can provide site-specific information on predator behavior and associated prey assemblages. Considering existing knowledge of animal communities in tidal channel environments, a proportional approach using shore-based observation and baited fish trap methods was developed. During April 2021, a trial of these methods was conducted in tidal channel environments in Shetland, UK. The practical application of the proposed approach is demonstrated here with results from three tidal channels including Bluemull Sound, the site of active TSE installations (the Shetland Tidal Array). Observation of predator behavior across the study sites are reported for great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo and European shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis. Seabird diving data calculated from the shore-based observations provided metrics relevant to informing EIA and collision risk modelling including dive duration, dives per minute, and % time underwater. Fish trap deployments targeted the benthic and demersal prey of these predators in the three study sites and across a range of depths and hydrodynamic conditions. A variety of fish and invertebrate species known to be important components of benthic-foraging seabird diet were successfully captured by the traps, providing basic biological information on the prey assemblages observed in each site. The fish species observed in the highest abundance were saithe Pollachius virens and cod Gadus morhua. Benefits, limitations, and applications of this approach are discussed along with various factors relating to the performance of both methods. The shore-based observations rapidly identified relevant patterns in predator foraging activity which informed the targeted deployment of fish traps to provide complementary prey data. This novel combined approach has potential to reduce costs and uncertainty in EIA and for supporting the responsible development of the MRE industry.

The Recent Range Expansion of Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo in Hokkaido, Japan

Though the Japanese population of Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo has increased in recent decades, information on its spread to the northern island of Hokkaido has not been reported outside of Japan. The purpose of this paper is to update the scientific community about the distribution and breeding ecology of Great Cormorants and to provide comparative information on the abundant and phenotypically similar resident Japanese Cormorant P. capillatus. Several ornithological groups and researchers were contacted in order to gather information about the current distribution and breeding activity of the Great Cormorant in the region. This paper consolidates the findings of Japanese research groups, translated publications and direct observations.