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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #159134
Title: SEASONAL DIETS OF MALE AND FEMALE DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS FROM AN OXBOW LAKE IN ARKANSAS

Author
item FENECH, AMY - UAPB
item LOCHMANN, STEVE - UAPB
item Radomski, Andrew

Submitted to: Waterbird
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/7/2004
Publication Date: 6/1/2004
Citation: Fenech, A.S., Lochmann, S.E., Radomski, A.A. 2004. Seasonal diets of male and female double-crested cormorants from an oxbow lake in Arkansas. Waterbird. p. 170-176.

Interpretive Summary: Diets were examined and analyzed for 418 wintering Double-crested Cormorants collected from January to mid-April 2001 and October to December 2001 at an oxbow lake in southeast Arkansas. The fish community was also sampled to examine prey availability. Gizzard Shad and Yellow Bass were the most important species in the cormorant diet. Other, less important, cormorant prey species included Channel Catfish, minnows, and sunfishes. Diet varied by season and sex. Cormorants consumed higher proportions of minnows and Channel Catfish in the autumn than the remainder of the over-wintering period. In general, females consumed Gizzard Shad more than males, while males consumed Channel Catfish more than females. Neither gender consumed notable amounts of sport fish. Prey size did not differ between the sexes, but did vary by season. These data demonstrate the relative importance of forage and rough fish and the lesser relative importance of sport fish in the diet of cormorants over-wintering on an oxbow lake in southeast Arkansas.

Technical Abstract: Diets were examined and analyzed for 418 wintering Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) collected from January to mid-April 2001 and October to December 2001 at an oxbow lake in southeast Arkansas. The fish community was also sampled to examine prey availability. Gizzard Shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) and Yellow Bass (Morone mississippiensis) were the most important species in the cormorant diet. Other, less important, cormorant prey species included Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), cyprinids (minnows), and sunfishes (Lepomis spp.). Diet varied by season and sex. Cormorants consumed higher proportions of cyprinids and Channel Catfish in the autumn than the remainder of the over-wintering period. In general, females consumed Gizzard Shad more than males, while males consumed Channel Catfish more than females. Neither genders consumed notable amounts of sport fish. Prey size did not differ between the sexes, but did vary by season. These data demonstrate the relative importance of forage and rough fish and the lesser relative importance of sport fish in the diet of cormorants over-wintering on an oxbow lake in southeast Arkansas.