Ecology of Puffinus griseus
 
Main Ref. SAUP Database, 2006
Remarks Nocturnal (Ref. 87784). Exhibits pursuit plunging and surface diving (Ref. 356). Gregarious at sea. Does not typically trail ships (Ref. 91362). Mean maximum diving depth on foraging trips, 39 m, and greatest depth recorded at 67 m. During the northern summer, migrates from the Antipodes into the North Pacific. In New Zealand, displaced their foraging competitors, the Antarctic Terns (Sterna vittata) from crustacean swarms by agitating the tern flock and covering the foraging surface in dense rafts. Does not breed in the North Pacific despite multitudes spending austral winter there after their long transequatorial migration from breeding areas in Australia and New Zealand (Ref. 87784). Colonial breeder (Ref. 91362) at sub-antarctic islands (Refs. 356, 91362). Winters in the sub-topical Pacific (Ref. 356). Burrow- and crevice-nesting; early in nesting cycle, wander in and out of burrows; burrows without breeding owners having as much as 10 different individuals within a single season. Population declines linked to fish-net mortality (Ref. 87784).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Puffinus griseus may be found.

Habitat

Substrate
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref. Schreiber, E.A. and J. Burger, 2001
Associations colony-forming/symphorism;
Associated with
Association remarks Form dense rafts as a tactic against their foraging competitor, the Antarctic Terns, on crustacean swarms in New Zealand waters (Ref. 87784). Colonial breeder (Ref. 91362).
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref. Schreiber, E.A. and J. Burger, 2001
Feeding habit hunting macrofauna (predator)
Feeding habit Ref. Schreiber, E.A. and J. Burger, 2001

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method original sample unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition
From individual food items 4.11 0.62 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref.
(e.g. 9948)
(e.g. cnidaria)
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