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Peer-reviewedCC BYPhilosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences

How volant seabirds benefit from sub-surface predators during multi-predator feeding aggregations.

  • Max Licht1,2,3
  • Edna Correia4
  • Martin Wikelski5,6
  • Jens Krause1,2,3
6 affiliations
  1. 1Faculty of Life Sciences, Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin , Invalidenstrasse 42, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
  2. 2Cluster of Excellence "Science of Intelligence" , Berlin, Germany, Marchstr. 23, 10587 Berlin, Germany.
  3. 3Department Fish Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries , Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany.
  4. 4CE3C Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa , 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal.
  5. 5Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior , Radolfzell, Germany.
  6. 6Department of Biology, University of Konstanz , Konstanz, Germany.
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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'.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{licht2026volant,
  title = {{How volant seabirds benefit from sub-surface predators during multi-predator feeding aggregations.}},
  author = {Max Licht and Edna Correia and Martin Wikelski and Jens Krause},
  journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1098/rstb.2025.0199},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42878040},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - How volant seabirds benefit from sub-surface predators during multi-predator feeding aggregations.
AU  - Max Licht
AU  - Edna Correia
AU  - Martin Wikelski
AU  - Jens Krause
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
DO  - 10.1098/rstb.2025.0199
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42878040
AB  - 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'.
SN  - 0962-8436
SN  - 1471-2970
ER  -