• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
ERN: Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM

ERN: Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM

  • About
    • About AAAS
    • About the NSF
    • About the Conference
    • Partners/Supporters
    • Project Team
  • Conference
  • Abstracts
    • Undergraduate Abstract Locator
    • Graduate Abstract Locator
    • Abstract Submission Process
    • Presentation Schedules
    • Abstract Submission Guidelines
    • Presentation Guidelines
  • Travel Awards
  • Resources
    • Award Winners
    • Code of Conduct-AAAS Meetings
    • Code of Conduct-ERN Conference
    • Conference Agenda
    • Conference Materials
    • Conference Program Books
    • ERN Photo Galleries
    • Events | Opportunities
    • Exhibitor Info
    • HBCU-UP/CREST PI/PD Meeting
    • In the News
    • NSF Harassment Policy
    • Plenary Session Videos
    • Professional Development
    • Science Careers Handbook
    • Additional Resources
    • Archives
  • Engage
    • Webinars
    • ERN 10-Year Anniversary Videos
    • Plenary Session Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Login

Relation of Food Source Availability at Huntington State Beach to the California Least Tern (Sternula atillarum browni) Diet

Undergraduate #258
Discipline: Ecology Environmental and Earth Sciences
Subcategory: Ecology

Cynthia Coria - California State University, Long Beach
Co-Author(s): Christine R. Whitcraft, California State University, Long Beach, CA



The California Least Tern (Sternula antillarum browni) is a federally endangered bird due to habitat loss and predation. Food availability, often reduced as habitats are lost or degraded, impacts nesting success and fledgling survival. Our study focused on the Huntington State Beach tern preserve and how food availability affects the diet of California Least Terns. The Huntington State Beach tern preserve has access to both the Pacific Ocean (marine habitat) and the Santa Ana River (tidal riverine habitat). Seines were conducted at both habitats during the mating, chick, and fledgling stages of the California Least Tern mating season. We determined that fish abundance, species richness, and community composition did not differ between habitats but topsmelt was the most abundant food source in both locations. Additionally, we found that topsmelt were significantly smaller during the chick and fledgling stages than during the mating stage. Further, using behavioral observations, we determined that more foraging was completed in the marine habitat rather than the tidal riverine habitat. This study shed light on food availability in differing habitats and locational foraging preference as it relates to the overall health and survival of the endangered California Least Tern at this colony.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): This study was supported by funding from a Summer Student Research Assitantship provided by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA.

Faculty Advisor: Christine R. Whitcraft, christine.whitcraft@csulb.edu

Role: Seining and behavioral observations were conducted by myself along with volunteers. Nest searches and subsequent weekly nest monitoring was also conducted under supervision of the Santa Ana Watershed. I also took part in the collection of dropped fish and guano samples from within the California Least Tern colony. However, guano samples will be analyzed in January 2017 as I will be receiving training from Point Blue Conservation Science for this technique. Further, data analysis was conducted by my faculty advisor, Christine R. Whitcraft, and I.

Sidebar

Abstract Locators

  • Undergraduate Abstract Locator
  • Graduate Abstract Locator

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.

AAAS

1200 New York Ave, NW
Washington,DC 20005
202-326-6400
Contact Us
About Us

  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The World’s Largest General Scientific Society

Useful Links

  • Membership
  • Careers at AAAS
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Focus Areas

  • Science Education
  • Science Diplomacy
  • Public Engagement
  • Careers in STEM

Focus Areas

  • Shaping Science Policy
  • Advocacy for Evidence
  • R&D Budget Analysis
  • Human Rights, Ethics & Law

© 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science