Ecological relationships between Common Murres, Uria aalge, and Thick-billed Murres, Uria lomvia, at the Gannet Islands, Labrador. II. Breeding success and site characteristics

Abstract

At the Gannet Islands, Labrador, the proportion of Thick-billed Murres (Uria lomvia) that successfully reared a chick that left the colony was significantly lower (mean = 63%) than that of Common Murres (Uria aalge; 82%) in each of 3 years of study. The physical and social features of the breeding site were the only factors known to influence breeding success. For both murre species, breeding success increased with ledge width, and whereas most Common Murres bred on the widest ledges, relatively few Thick-billed Murres did so. The success of each species did not differ significantly on ledges of the same width. We suggest that Common and Thick-billed murres competed for breeding sites and that Common Murres obtained a disproportionate share of the "best" sites. This occurred because Common Murres outnumbered Thick-billed Murres by about 40:1 and because cliff habitat was in short supply. Whereas Thick-billed Murres bred only on cliffs, Common Murres were able to breed on cliffs and flat ground nearer sea level. Additional circumstantial evidence supports the idea that Common and Thick-billed murres at the Gannet Islands compete for breeding sites.