{
  "abstract": "Multi-predator feeding aggregations are common in marine ecosystems and frequently involve seabirds. Often labelled opportunistic 'scroungers', volant seabirds derive diverse benefits from the association with sub-surface predators (such as cetaceans, pinnipeds, Teleosts) which can significantly enhance their hunting performance. In this opinion piece, we outline the major mechanisms through which sub-surface predators benefit volant seabirds, based on recent quantitative evidence and hypotheses that warrant further research. The mechanisms we identified are: herding prey to the surface, prey detection (local enhancement), reduction of prey cohesion, access to immobilized prey and the attentional overload of prey. Furthermore, we discuss potential interactions between these mechanisms and mechanism-based predictions which can be tested in the field. We propose that the associations with sub-surface predators are ecologically relevant to the extent that they may influence selection breeding sites. We conclude by discussing methodological advancements that have the possibility to further research in this field and go over open questions they might help to answer in the future. This article is part of the theme issue 'Multi-predator feeding aggregations in the pelagic waters'.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Faculty of Life Sciences, Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin , Invalidenstrasse 42, 10115 Berlin, Germany.",
    "Cluster of Excellence \"Science of Intelligence\" , Berlin, Germany, Marchstr. 23, 10587 Berlin, Germany.",
    "Department Fish Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries , Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany.",
    "CE3C Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa , 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal.",
    "Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior , Radolfzell, Germany.",
    "Department of Biology, University of Konstanz , Konstanz, Germany."
  ],
  "article_type": "review",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Max Licht",
      "orcid": "0009-0009-0723-7805"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Edna Correia",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-3893-1700"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4,
        5
      ],
      "name": "Martin Wikelski"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Jens Krause",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1289-2857"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/d6pa9nbcdd81q.bib",
  "cited_by": 2,
  "doi": "10.1098/rstb.2025.0199",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13678720",
  "id": "d6pa9nbcdd81q",
  "issns": [
    "0962-8436",
    "1471-2970"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42878040",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2303|Marine animal studies overview"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222175513",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13678720?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13678720",
  "pmid": "42878040",
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/d6pa9nbcdd81q.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:16Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42878040",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42878040"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:2303|Marine animal studies overview",
      "subfield": "ecology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "How volant seabirds benefit from sub-surface predators during multi-predator feeding aggregations.",
  "title_text": "How volant seabirds benefit from sub-surface predators during multi-predator feeding aggregations.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:16Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/d6pa9nbcdd81q",
  "venue": "Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences",
  "versions": []
}