thumbnail

Atypical feeding behavior of Long-tailed Ducks in the wake of a commercial fishing boat while clamming

Northeastern Naturalist
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.1656/045.024.0213

Links

Abstract

A foraging group of Clangula hyemalis (Long-tailed Duck) was observed on 10 February 2010 diving behind a commercial boat that was clamming near Monomoy Island, Nantucket Sound, MA. We used a shotgun to collect 9 of the ducks, and our analyses of gizzard and gullet (esophagus and proventriculus) revealed 37 food items in the gizzard and 16 in the gullet. Mollusca were the dominant food in the gizzard (49%), whereas Crustacea were dominant in the gullet (57%). Crustacea were the second most important food in the gizzard (38%), whereas Mollusca were the second most important food in the gullet (31%). Relatively high volumes of the Amphipoda Caprella sp. (skeleton shrimp) and the Decopoda Crangon septemspinosa (Sand Shrimp) were recorded in the gullet and gizzard. Ensis directus (Atlantic Jackknife Clam) formed the greatest volume of Mollusca in the gizzard (15%) and in the gullet (15%). Long-tailed Ducks had fed on this Bivalvia and several other species of Mollusca that had no shell or broken shell when consumed. Many of the food organisms were apparently dislodged and some damaged by the clamming operation creating an opportunistic feeding strategy for the Long-tailed Ducks.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Atypical feeding behavior of Long-tailed Ducks in the wake of a commercial fishing boat while clamming
Series title Northeastern Naturalist
DOI 10.1656/045.024.0213
Volume 24
Issue 2
Year Published 2017
Language English
Publisher Eagle Hill Institute
Contributing office(s) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Description 7 p.
First page N19
Last page N25
Country United States
State Massachusetts
Other Geospatial Nantucket Sound
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details