The rapid expansion of Great Cormorant populations during the second part of the 20th century has caused many conflicts, mostly with fisheries. Cormorants are often considered as important reason for depleted fish stocks, although evidences are often insufficient. This study of the Great Cormorant diet took place in the largest Lithuanian colony near Juodkrantė. Important for the impact evaluation cormorant nutrition aspects, including diet composition, its temporal variation and feeding selectivity, were determined. The reliability of pellet analysis for quantitative dietary assessments was evaluated for the first time using a stable isotope mixing model. Great Cormorant impact on spatial fish distribution was also assessed for the first time. Long-term fish community monitoring data were used for Cormorant impact assessment in the Curonian Lagoon. The results of our study are important for providing improved assessments of the long-term effects of Cormorants on fish communities in large, complex, highly productive aquatic systems. The practical significance of this study is its evaluation of competition between cormorants and commercial fishermen, which enables to substantiate the need to regulate cormorant population. Assessments of Cormorant impact on invasive Round Goby populations is also important. / XX amžiaus antroje pusėje didžiųjų kormoranų populiacijos Europoje staigus augimas sukėlė eilę konfliktų, daugiausia su žvejais ir žuvų augintojais. Kormoranai dažnai kaltinami dėl mažėjančių žuvų išteklių, tačiau moksliniais tyrimais pagrįstų įrodymų dažnai trūksta. Šiame tyrime buvo tiriama didžiųjų kormoranų mityba didžiausioje Lietuvoje Juodkrantės kolonijoje. Darbe buvo nustatyti svarbūs kormoranų poveikio vertinimui mitybos aspektai – raciono sudėtis ir jos kitimas laike, mitybos selektyvumas. Pirmą kartą buvo įvertintas atrajų analizės metodo patikimumas raciono sudėties kiekybiniam vertinimui, naudojant stabiliųjų izotopų sudėties analizės metodą. Taip pat pirmą kartą buvo vertinamas didžiųjų kormoranų poveikis žuvų populiacijoms erdvėje. Remiantis daugiamečio monitoringo duomenimis, buvo įvertintas kormoranų poveikis žuvų populiacijoms Kuršių mariose. Šio tyrimo rezultatai leidžia geriau įvertinti didžiųjų kormoranų ilgalaikį poveikį žuvų bendrijoms didelėse sudėtingose aukšto produktyvumo vandens sistemose. Praktinę vertę šiame darbe turi kormoranų ir žvejų verslininkų tiesioginės ir netiesioginės konkurencijos įvertinimas, leidžiantis pagrįsti kormoranų populiacijos reguliavimo priemonių tikslingumą. Svarbus praktiškai yra ir kormoranų poveikio invazinio juodažiočio grundalo populiacijai įvertinimas.

Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) populations have experienced a rapid growth in Europe since the 1980s, resulting in conflicts with fisheries over local fish resources. The 8-fjords area is a marine protected area on the Swedish west coast, where long term overfishing has led to a collapse of several local demersal fish stocks. Subsequently, fishing regulations have been implemented to protect and re-establish the stocks of cod- and flatfish species, at the same time as cormorants have increased largely in numbers. The increased predation pressure has raised concerns about the recovery of local fish stocks, although knowledge about cormorant feeding habits are lacking. Here, cormorant prey choice in two subareas of the 8-fjords area is investigated, using morphological identification of prey remains in regurgitated pellets. An estimated 15 077 fishes were identified from a total of 480 pellets. The most important prey families based on relative abundance were flatfish (Pleuronectidae 48%), gobies (Gobiidae 21%) and codfish (Gadidae 13%). Pairwise ANOSIM analyses showed extremely small differences in diet composition between sites (p≤0.003, R<0.08). In comparison to available monitoring fishery data, the diet did not correspond to prey abundance. Estimated fish sizes of a subsample of flat- and codfish showed that juveniles seemed to be preferred. Pellet analysis provided limited information about consumed species and should be combined with other methods for more detailed assessments of cormorant prey choice in the 8-fjords area.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第22488号 / 農博第2392号 / 新制||農||1076(附属図書館) / 学位論文||R2||N5268(農学部図書室) / 京都大学大学院農学研究科地域環境科学専攻 / (主査)教授 藤原 正幸, 教授 村上 章, 准教授 宇波 耕一 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

In Karpfen sächsischer Karpfenteichwirtschaften spielen u.a. die Zestoden Neogryporhynchus cheilancristrotus und Paradilepis scolecina und der Trematode Diplostomum pseudospathaceum eine Rolle (KAPPE 2004, PIETROCK et al. 2006, KAPPE & SEIFERT unveröff.). Weitere Fischarten (Schleie, Plötze, Regenbogenforelle) sind mit den Trematoden Diplostomum sp., Hysteromorpha triloba, Posthodiplostomum cuticola infiziert (PIETROCK et al. 2006). Mit dieser Arbeit sollte der Versuch unternommen werden, die Bedeutung Fisch fressender Vögel als Vektor Fisch pathogener Helminthen in Sachsen aufzuklären. Dafür wurden im Zeitraum von Juni 2003 bis Dezember 2004 97 Kormorane (Phalacrocorax carbo) und 46 Graureiher (Ardea cinerea) aus dem Einzugsgebiet sächsischer Teichwirtschaften auf ihren Befall mit Endohelminthen untersucht. Im Winter 2004 konnte zusätzlich ein Silberreiher (Casmerodius albus) und eine Silbermöwe (Larus argentatus) in die Untersuchungen einbezogen werden. Während des Untersuchungszeitraumes konnten so insgesamt 29 Parasitengattungen bzw. -arten nachgewiesen werden, denen z.T. kommerziell genutzte Süßwasserfische als Zwischenwirte oder paratenische Wirte dienen. Die Parasiten des Kormorans umfassten 15 verschiedene Parasitenarten. Dabei handelte es sich um die beiden Zestoden Ligula intestinalis und Paradilepis scolecina, die sechs Nematoden Baruscapillaria spp., Contracaecum rudolphii, Cyathostoma microspiculum, Desmidocercella incognita, Eucoleus contortus und Syncuaria squamata und die sieben Trematoden Clinostomum complanatum, Holostephanus dubinini, Hysteromorpha triloba, Metorchis xanthosomus, Paryphostomum radiatum, Petasiger exaeretus und P. phalacrocoracis. Außerdem wurden die zwei Kratzer Corynosoma strumosum und Polymorphus sp. nachgewiesen. Im Graureiher konnten dagegen nur neun Helminthenarten nachgewiesen werden. So der Zestode Neogryporhynchus cheilancristrotus, die sechs Trematoden Apharyngostrigea cornu, Bilharziella polonica, Diplostomum sp., Echinoasmus belocephalus, Posthodiplostomum cuticola und Tylodelphis excavata und die drei Nematoden Avioserpens galliardi, Desmidocercella incognita und Desmidocercella numidica. In der Silbermöwe konnten der Zestode Echinocotyle verschureni, die vier Trematoden Apophallus mühlingi, Diplostomum pseudospathaceum, Renicola lari und Metorchis xanthosomus sowie die drei Nematoden Desmidocercella incognita, Cosmocephalus obvelatus und Paracuaria tridentata nachgewiesen werden. Die parasitologischen Befunde des Silberreihers beschränkten sich auf Apharyngostrigea sp., Desmidocercella incognita und Desmidocercella numidica. Eine Beeinflussung der Helminthenfauna von Karpfen durch Kormoran und Reiher als auch umgekehrt konnte anhand der eigenen Untersuchungen in sächsischen Teichwirtschaften nicht sicher nachgewiesen werden. / In Saxonian carp ponds the cestodes Neogryporhynchus cheilancristrotus and Paradilepis scolecina and the trematode Diplostomum pseudospathaceum occur amongst others in carps (KAPPE 2004, PIETROCK et al. 2006, KAPPE & SEIFERT unpublished). Further fish species (tench, roach, rainbow trout) are infected with the trematodes Diplostomum sp., Hysteromorpha triloba and Posthodiplostomum cuticola (PIETROCK et al. 2006). This work was performed to analyse the importance of fish eating birds as vectors of fish pathogenic helminths. For this purpose 97 common cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) and 46 grey herons (Ardea cinerea) were examined on their infestation with endohelminths during the term of June 2003 to December 2004. All these birds came from the vicinity of Saxonian fish ponds. In winter 2004 additionally an egret (Casmerodius albus) and an hering gull (Larus argentatus) were included into the investigations. Altogether 29 parasite species and genus respectively could be detected. Some of these endohelminths use fresh water fishes as intermediate or paratenic hosts. The cormorants harboured 15 different parasite species and genus respectively: the two cestodes Ligula intestinalis and Paradilepis scolecina, the six nematodes Baruscapillaria carbonis, Contracaecum rudolphii, Cyathostoma microspiculum, Desmidocercella incognita, Eucoleus contortus and Syncuaria squamata and seven trematodes the Clinostomum complanatum, Holostephanus dubinini, Hysteromorpha triloba, Metorchis xanthosomus, Paryphostomum radiatum, Petasiger exaeretus and P. phalacrocoracis. In addition the two acanthocephales Corynosoma strumosum and Polymorphus sp. were detected. In the grey heron nine helminth species/genus could be detected: the cestode Neogryporhynchus cheilancristrotus, the six trematodes Apharyngostrigea cornu, Bilharziella polonica, Diplostomum sp., Echinoasmus belocephalus, Posthodiplostomum cuticola and Tylodelphis excavata and the three nematodes Avioserpens galliardi, Desmidocercella incognita and Desmidocercella numidica. In the hering gull the cestode Echinocotyle verschureni, the four trematodes Apophallus muehlingi, Diplostomum pseudospathaceum, Renicola lari and Metorchis xanthosomus as well as the three nematodes Desmidocercella incognita, Cosmocephalus obvelatus and Paracuaria tridentata were detected. Merely three endohelminths could be demonstrated in the investigated egret: Apharyngostrigea sp., Desmidocercella incognita and D. numidica. Six of the 29 endohelminth species and genus respectively were found in this examination to infest both fish and birds in Saxonian fish ponds. Nevertheless the helminth fauna of the inestigated birds, in particular of cormorants and herons did not make a definite impact on the carps´ infestation with endohelminths. As well as the fish helminth fauna were not unequivocally linked to those of the birds.

In Karpfen sächsischer Karpfenteichwirtschaften spielen u.a. die Zestoden Neogryporhynchus cheilancristrotus und Paradilepis scolecina und der Trematode Diplostomum pseudospathaceum eine Rolle (KAPPE 2004, PIETROCK et al. 2006, KAPPE & SEIFERT unveröff.). Weitere Fischarten (Schleie, Plötze, Regenbogenforelle) sind mit den Trematoden Diplostomum sp., Hysteromorpha triloba, Posthodiplostomum cuticola infiziert (PIETROCK et al. 2006). Mit dieser Arbeit sollte der Versuch unternommen werden, die Bedeutung Fisch fressender Vögel als Vektor Fisch pathogener Helminthen in Sachsen aufzuklären. Dafür wurden im Zeitraum von Juni 2003 bis Dezember 2004 97 Kormorane (Phalacrocorax carbo) und 46 Graureiher (Ardea cinerea) aus dem Einzugsgebiet sächsischer Teichwirtschaften auf ihren Befall mit Endohelminthen untersucht. Im Winter 2004 konnte zusätzlich ein Silberreiher (Casmerodius albus) und eine Silbermöwe (Larus argentatus) in die Untersuchungen einbezogen werden. Während des Untersuchungszeitraumes konnten so insgesamt 29 Parasitengattungen bzw. -arten nachgewiesen werden, denen z.T. kommerziell genutzte Süßwasserfische als Zwischenwirte oder paratenische Wirte dienen. Die Parasiten des Kormorans umfassten 15 verschiedene Parasitenarten. Dabei handelte es sich um die beiden Zestoden Ligula intestinalis und Paradilepis scolecina, die sechs Nematoden Baruscapillaria spp., Contracaecum rudolphii, Cyathostoma microspiculum, Desmidocercella incognita, Eucoleus contortus und Syncuaria squamata und die sieben Trematoden Clinostomum complanatum, Holostephanus dubinini, Hysteromorpha triloba, Metorchis xanthosomus, Paryphostomum radiatum, Petasiger exaeretus und P. phalacrocoracis. Außerdem wurden die zwei Kratzer Corynosoma strumosum und Polymorphus sp. nachgewiesen. Im Graureiher konnten dagegen nur neun Helminthenarten nachgewiesen werden. So der Zestode Neogryporhynchus cheilancristrotus, die sechs Trematoden Apharyngostrigea cornu, Bilharziella polonica, Diplostomum sp., Echinoasmus belocephalus, Posthodiplostomum cuticola und Tylodelphis excavata und die drei Nematoden Avioserpens galliardi, Desmidocercella incognita und Desmidocercella numidica. In der Silbermöwe konnten der Zestode Echinocotyle verschureni, die vier Trematoden Apophallus mühlingi, Diplostomum pseudospathaceum, Renicola lari und Metorchis xanthosomus sowie die drei Nematoden Desmidocercella incognita, Cosmocephalus obvelatus und Paracuaria tridentata nachgewiesen werden. Die parasitologischen Befunde des Silberreihers beschränkten sich auf Apharyngostrigea sp., Desmidocercella incognita und Desmidocercella numidica. Eine Beeinflussung der Helminthenfauna von Karpfen durch Kormoran und Reiher als auch umgekehrt konnte anhand der eigenen Untersuchungen in sächsischen Teichwirtschaften nicht sicher nachgewiesen werden. / In Saxonian carp ponds the cestodes Neogryporhynchus cheilancristrotus and Paradilepis scolecina and the trematode Diplostomum pseudospathaceum occur amongst others in carps (KAPPE 2004, PIETROCK et al. 2006, KAPPE & SEIFERT unpublished). Further fish species (tench, roach, rainbow trout) are infected with the trematodes Diplostomum sp., Hysteromorpha triloba and Posthodiplostomum cuticola (PIETROCK et al. 2006). This work was performed to analyse the importance of fish eating birds as vectors of fish pathogenic helminths. For this purpose 97 common cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) and 46 grey herons (Ardea cinerea) were examined on their infestation with endohelminths during the term of June 2003 to December 2004. All these birds came from the vicinity of Saxonian fish ponds. In winter 2004 additionally an egret (Casmerodius albus) and an hering gull (Larus argentatus) were included into the investigations. Altogether 29 parasite species and genus respectively could be detected. Some of these endohelminths use fresh water fishes as intermediate or paratenic hosts. The cormorants harboured 15 different parasite species and genus respectively: the two cestodes Ligula intestinalis and Paradilepis scolecina, the six nematodes Baruscapillaria carbonis, Contracaecum rudolphii, Cyathostoma microspiculum, Desmidocercella incognita, Eucoleus contortus and Syncuaria squamata and seven trematodes the Clinostomum complanatum, Holostephanus dubinini, Hysteromorpha triloba, Metorchis xanthosomus, Paryphostomum radiatum, Petasiger exaeretus and P. phalacrocoracis. In addition the two acanthocephales Corynosoma strumosum and Polymorphus sp. were detected. In the grey heron nine helminth species/genus could be detected: the cestode Neogryporhynchus cheilancristrotus, the six trematodes Apharyngostrigea cornu, Bilharziella polonica, Diplostomum sp., Echinoasmus belocephalus, Posthodiplostomum cuticola and Tylodelphis excavata and the three nematodes Avioserpens galliardi, Desmidocercella incognita and Desmidocercella numidica. In the hering gull the cestode Echinocotyle verschureni, the four trematodes Apophallus muehlingi, Diplostomum pseudospathaceum, Renicola lari and Metorchis xanthosomus as well as the three nematodes Desmidocercella incognita, Cosmocephalus obvelatus and Paracuaria tridentata were detected. Merely three endohelminths could be demonstrated in the investigated egret: Apharyngostrigea sp., Desmidocercella incognita and D. numidica. Six of the 29 endohelminth species and genus respectively were found in this examination to infest both fish and birds in Saxonian fish ponds. Nevertheless the helminth fauna of the inestigated birds, in particular of cormorants and herons did not make a definite impact on the carps´ infestation with endohelminths. As well as the fish helminth fauna were not unequivocally linked to those of the birds.

(I) Background. Conflicts emerge when populations of protected species grow to sizes that cause noticeable economic damage - like in the case of the fish consuming Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis). One possible approach for reconciliation is to regulate the size of the population in question. In doing so, regulation strategies have to meet multiple targets: 1) population size has to be reduced; 2) the viability of the population has to be maintained; 3) strategies have to adhere to the available budget. This thesis focuses on the regulation of populations that are structured into two groups - breeders and mature non-breeders. The pool of non-breeders provides a reserve for the breeders, whereby they may enable the population to resist regulation attempts. (II) Aims. 1) Development of a modeling framework and a conceptual model to provide an understanding of the functioning and effect of the population structure induced by non-breeders on population dynamics in a fluctuating environment. 2) Uncover the relation between non-breeder characteristics and the performance of regulation strategies. 3) Application of the modeling approach to the regulation of the Cormorant in order to evaluate the results from the conceptual model and find statements to support decisions on management strategies. (III) Methods. A conceptual stochastic time-discrete model, based on the logistic map with overlapping generations, is developed. Different types of threshold regulation strategies are applied. Strategies differed in which part of the model was affected by regulation. Resulting rules from the conceptual model are tested by applying them to a second age-structured model of a cormorant population, parametrized with data gained from a cormorant colony in Denmark. Analyzes of this model focus on the ecological-economic performance of regulation strategies and result in rankings of regulation options. Regulation performance is judged from different economic perspectives.

The submitted M.Sc. thesis describes development in populations of the bird and mammalian species, having been involved in human - wildlife conflicts, particularly of the specially protected species, in the Czech Republic as well as in compensation payments for damages caused on private properties by the selected specially protected wild animal species. At the same time, it compares various tools, applied to solve human - willdife conflicts in the different parts of the world. The study presents information provided by governmental authorities or gained from grey literature, expert databases and scientific papers. Trends both in the development in conflict species populations and in compensation payments were assessed and the relationship between both variables was found. In total, payments for damages caused by conflict wild animal species has been increasing in the Czech Republic since 2000, but trends in the conflict species populations differ from each other, influenced particularly by their bionomics. The analysis performed shows, that the act on the topic is effective only for some of the above wild animal species. For large carnivores, namely the Grey Wolf (Canis lupus), Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) and Brown Bear (Ursus arctos), the above tool does not provide suitable solutions for their...

<p>The strong increase in number of Great cormorants <i>Phalacrocorax carbo</i> in Sweden in recent years has led to conflicts - particularly with fishery. This thesis focuses on the possible effects of cormorant predation on fish populations. In total, data from 15 lakes in South Sweden were included in this study while most studies were carried out in Lake Ymsen. The results suggest that the impact of cormorant predation on natural fish populations was small, and I observed no decline in fish mass after cormorants established. Cormorant predation on eel was difficult to evaluate because of several confounding factors.</p><p>Ruffe, roach and perch were the most important prey species to the cormorants and most fish taken were small. Cormorants do not seem to catch species and sizes in proportion to their occurrence in the fish community.</p><p>Total fish removal by cormorants varied considerably among lakes (0.2-15.0 kg/ha) and cormorant population sizes at the different lakes were significantly positively correlated with fishery catches, which in turn was significantly positively correlated with total phosphorous levels. Thus, cormorant densities in lakes, and perhaps elsewhere, seem to be governed chiefly by fish densities. The fact that cormorant predation appears not to reduce fish densities suggest cormorants to be regulated by other means than prey depletion. The mechanism behind population regulation could be a behavioural response of fish, making fish more difficult to catch for the cormorants.</p><p>In recent years, cormorant populations have been subjected to intensive legal and illegal actions with the aim to reduce cormorant numbers. However, the actions currently carried are well below the efforts needed to limit population sizes. To conclude, cormorants appear to compete little with fishery, with regards to free-living fish. The main problem is that cormorants sometimes damage and take away fish in fishing gears.</p>

The strong increase in number of Great cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo in Sweden in recent years has led to conflicts - particularly with fishery. This thesis focuses on the possible effects of cormorant predation on fish populations. In total, data from 15 lakes in South Sweden were included in this study while most studies were carried out in Lake Ymsen. The results suggest that the impact of cormorant predation on natural fish populations was small, and I observed no decline in fish mass after cormorants established. Cormorant predation on eel was difficult to evaluate because of several confounding factors. Ruffe, roach and perch were the most important prey species to the cormorants and most fish taken were small. Cormorants do not seem to catch species and sizes in proportion to their occurrence in the fish community. Total fish removal by cormorants varied considerably among lakes (0.2-15.0 kg/ha) and cormorant population sizes at the different lakes were significantly positively correlated with fishery catches, which in turn was significantly positively correlated with total phosphorous levels. Thus, cormorant densities in lakes, and perhaps elsewhere, seem to be governed chiefly by fish densities. The fact that cormorant predation appears not to reduce fish densities suggest cormorants to be regulated by other means than prey depletion. The mechanism behind population regulation could be a behavioural response of fish, making fish more difficult to catch for the cormorants. In recent years, cormorant populations have been subjected to intensive legal and illegal actions with the aim to reduce cormorant numbers. However, the actions currently carried are well below the efforts needed to limit population sizes. To conclude, cormorants appear to compete little with fishery, with regards to free-living fish. The main problem is that cormorants sometimes damage and take away fish in fishing gears.

Piscivorous birds are often blamed for causing significant damage to fish stocks. Various methods are used to determine the composition of their food, each of them has limits in its ability to determine the complete food spectrum. This work maps the complete food composition of 14 species of fish-eating birds with a method that is not commonly used. Method used in this work uses analysis of publicly available photos on Google.com. In addition to the complete composition of the food, the species composition of the non-fish part of the prey was also determined, and in the case of the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), also the length of the fishes it catches. The aim of this work is to reveal the usability of this method for these purposes. A total of 2350 retrieved photographs were analyzed. The results obtained by photo analysis are in all cases compared with data in the available literature. For representatives of heron birds (Ardeidae), the analysis of photographs provided good information on the food spectrum of individual birds and on the qualitative composition of the non-fish component. It also provided relatively good information on the diet of the White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), but the bird part of the prey was slightly underestimated. In the diet of the Great Crested Grebe...