Ecology of Phoebastria nigripes
 
Main Ref. SAUP Database, 2006
Remarks Found in the open ocean (Refs. 356, 122680). Scavengers (Ref. 356). Exhibits surface seizing behavior (Refs. 356, 122680). Courtship display preceding mating pair formation involves fanning both wings simultaneously while touching its side with its bill. Nests inland on Midway Island in calm areas; go to edge of islands and utilize updrafts to get airborne. Nesting site defended by aggression in the form of overt attack biting, threat with wide gape and vocalization, and rapid bill-clapping. Shifts between pairs in incubating eggs are long to allow far-foraging; longest recorded distance of a breeding individual of this species is 3700 km from its colony. Unable to regulate body temperature while still in the egg, even in late-incubation embryos with pip-holes; hatchlings, however, are able to regulate body temperature in response to environmental conditions. Semi-precocial. Postfledging care about 40 days. High mercury levels on feathers of young from Midway, north Pacific Ocean. Vulnerable to long-line fisheries (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 Phoebastria nigripes may be found.

Habitat

Substrate
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type
Feeding type Ref.
Feeding habit
Feeding habit Ref.

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method original sample unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition
From individual food items 4.09 0.45 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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