Linking the foraging performance of a marine predator to local prey abundance

摘要: Summary 1Knowledge of the functional response predators to prey densities conditions our understanding food webs. Such links are still poorly understood within higher trophic levels marine ecosystems. 2We present first field study recording foraging effort and yield a seabird (the Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo) as well abundance quality its area. 3We confirm that Cormorants off West-Greenland show highest performance recorded for predator (between 17 41 g fish caught per minute underwater). Former work suggests such high should be based upon exploitation extremely profitable patches. 4Contrary this hypothesis, average abundances estimated areas cormorants were low (0·03–0·09 m−2, depending on methods), was calorific value items (4·2 kJ g−1). 5Our remain highly successful even when exploiting modest resources. These findings have implications predator–prey relationships, management Cormorant populations.