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Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

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Titre :	Variation in the diet of Ospreys Pandion haliaetus, Farasan islands, southern Red Sea: Preliminary observations
Auteurs :	Paul R. Fisher, Auteur ; Stephen F. Newton, Auteur ; Hany M. A. Tatwany, Auteur ; Chris R. Goldspink, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Vogelwelt (Die) (122(3-4) 2001)
Article en page(s) :	205-218
Résumé :	The diet of resident Ospreys was studied in the Farasan islands, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia between 1994 and 1996. The archipelago supports 80-100 breeding pairs, one of the highest breeding densities recorded in the Red Sea. Prey items were collected from 28 active nests on a weekly basis from the two largest islands, Farasan Kebir and As Saqid, and three nearshore islands, Salubah, Abker, Shura and Khur Maadi. The islands are typical of the locally important marine biotopes. Farasan Kebir and As Saqid Ospreys were most disturbed by local fishermen and clutches vulnerable to predation from small carnivores. A reference collection of fish prey species was prepared for the main species represented and various length/weight calibrations derived. Fish assemblages across biotopes were sampled on an opportunistic basis by gill netting and SCUBA transects. In total 56 taxa of fish were identified, either indirectly from nest collections across the archipelago or directly by feeding observations. The fish species belonged to 28 families. Diet diversity was higher than that recorded for Tiran Island Ospreys in the northern Red Sea. Diet varied widely within and between the major marine biotopes, which can be explained by the catchability, availability and ecology of prey species. In particular, Osprey nest collections from coral-dominated fringing reefs tended to contain more predatory fish species (e.g. Carangids), associated with an overall high species richness, whereas Ospreys in other sites tended to feed on fish lower down the food chain (e.g. grazing Pomacanthids). Preliminary results suggest that Osprey productivity could be influenced by diet diversity, which appears to be largely dependent on the type and health of the marine biotope. In view of the strong local effects of marine biotope and fish species assemblages on the distribution and diet of Ospreys, future management needs to be vigilant to those developments which could lead to selective destruction of marine biotopes, particularly coral-dominated fringing reefs, and their associated communities. Changes in diet and breeding performance are likely to provide early warning of environmental degradation. We emphasize the need to integrate management recommendations to address these conflicts within Marine Management Plans or Regional Action Plans currently being developed within the Middle East region.

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