(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species gannet, northern
Species Id M040022
Date 26 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - gannet, northern
OTHER COMMON NAMES -
ELEMENT CODE - 04/05/84
AOU CODE - 06/04/85
CATEGORY - Birds
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - Chordata,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Aves,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - Pelecaniformes,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Sulidae,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Sula,
SPECIES AND SSP - bassanus,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Sula bassanus
AUTHORITY - Linnaeus
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 624, 3950, 2484, 4122, 4106 and 606
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Formerly Pelecanus bassanus Linaeus, under the order
steganopodes; long history of controversy as to whether gannets and
boobies should be in the genus Sula, or if gannets should be placed in
the genus Morus; when classed under genus Morus, usually known as Morus
bassanus *3950,2484,4122,4106,606,624*
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species gannet, northern
Species Id M040022
Date 26 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Federal Migratory
Nongame-Protected
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 758 and 4100
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species gannet, northern
Species Id M040022
Date 26 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
References on County Occurrence - CB1 and AO1
References on Seasonal Occurrence - Common to abundant transient and uncommon winter resident,
rare summer visitor *700*
References on County Abundance - CB3 and AO1
REFERENCES FOR HYDROLOGIC UNIT CODES - CB3 and AO1
OTHER DISTRIBUTION
REFERENCES FOR OTHER DISTRIBUTION - H
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - Aquatic
REFERENCES FOR HABITAT - 700, 4122 and 4106
LAND USE -
Water
Chesapeake Bay
Atlantic Ocean Coastal Waters
Barren Land
Bare Exposed Rock
REFERENCES FOR LAND USE - 606, 700, 4122, 4106 and 3950
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Marine, subtidal OW0 V
REFERENCES FOR NWI - 606, 3950, 2484 and 4108
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
Only comes to land to breed *3950,606*
ANIMAL/PLANT SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
Cholera
Salmonella
Newcastle disease
flies
lice
mites
ticks
REFERENCES FOR SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS - 1901, 1959, 2035, 1913, 1952 and 1992
COMMENTS ON SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
Diseases and parasites *1959,2035,1913,1901*
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species gannet, northern
Species Id M040022
Date 26 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
Carnivore
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 706, 2484 and 3950
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Gadiformes Not Specified
General Perciformes Adult stage
General Clupeiformes Adult stage
General Salmoniformes Not Specified
General Pleuronectiformes Not Specified
General Semionotiformes Not Specified
General Osteichthyes Adult stage
General Squid, Octopus Not Specified
General Molluscs Not Specified
General Crustaceans Not Specified
General Echinoderms Not Specified
General Animals Adult stage
General See Comments; Food See Comments
Important Osteichthyes Not Specified
Important Animals Not Specified
Juvenile Osteichthyes Not Specified
Juvenile Perciformes Adult stage
Juvenile Clupeiformes Adult stage
Juvenile Animals Not Specified
Juvenile See Comments; Food See Comments
Adult Gadiformes Not Specified
Adult Perciformes Adult stage
Adult Clupeiformes Adult stage
Adult Salmoniformes Not Specified
Adult Semionotiformes Not Specified
Adult Osteichthyes Adult stage
Adult Squid, Octopus Not Specified
Adult Molluscs Not Specified
Adult Crustaceans Not Specified
Adult Echinoderms Not Specified
Adult Animals Adult stage
Adult See Comments; Food See Comments
REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 4108, 606, 3950, 4111 and 2484
REFERENCES FOR IMPORTANT FOOD - 2484 and 3950
REFERENCES FOR ADULT FOOD - 4108, 606, 3950, 4111 and 2484
REFERENCES FOR JUVENILE FOOD - 606 and 4111
COMMENTS ON FOOD -
9999S= scraps from fishing vessels and other ships
*4108,2484,606*
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species gannet, northern
Species Id M040022
Date 26 AUG 96
COMMENTS ON ADULT FOOD -
99999S = feed from scraps and waste of fishing vessels and
other ships *2484,606,4108*
COMMENTS ON JUVENILE FOOD -
9999S = nestlings fed incompletely regurgitated food by
parents *606,4111*
Food Habits - 2 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species gannet, northern
Species Id M040022
Date 26 AUG 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Terrestrial Features: Cliffs/ledges
G Biodegradable Organics: Specified in Comments
G Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Open water [pelagic zone]
G Coastal Features: Rocky offshore islands
G Vegetations Successional Stage: Bare rock
G Relation to Substrate: Occurs on substrate [not penetrating]
G Substrate: Mud or silt
G Substrate: Plants
LIM Terrestrial Features: Cliffs/ledges
LIM Biodegradable Organics: Specified in Comments
LIM Coastal Features: Rocky offshore islands
LIM Vegetations Successional Stage: Bare rock
E Biodegradable Organics: Specified in Comments
FJ Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Open water [pelagic zone]
RJ Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Open water [pelagic zone]
RJ Coastal Features: Rocky offshore islands
RJ Terrestrial Features: Cliffs/ledges
FA Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Open water [pelagic zone]
RA Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Open water [pelagic zone]
RA Coastal Features: Rocky offshore islands
RA Terrestrial Features: Cliffs/ledges
BA Biodegradable Organics: Specified in Comments
BA Coastal Features: Rocky offshore islands
BA Terrestrial Features: Cliffs/ledges
BA Vegetations Successional Stage: Bare rock
BA Substrate: Mud or silt
BA Substrate: Plants
BA Relation to Substrate: Occurs on substrate [not penetrating]
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 4101, 4122, 4103, 4110, 4107, 4102, 606, 4113, 3950, 4111, 2484 and 4106
REFERENCES FOR LIMITING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 4103, 4110, 4102, 4113, 606, 4122 and 4106
REFERENCES FOR FEEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 4109, 3950, 606 and 2484
REFERENCES FOR RESTING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 3950, 606 and 2484
REFERENCES FOR BREEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 4102, 4113, 606, 4122, 4106, 4101, 4107, 3950, 2484 and 4111
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species gannet, northern
Species Id M040022
Date 26 AUG 96
REFERENCES FOR FEEDING JUVENILE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 4122, 4106, 3950 and 606
REFERENCES FOR RESTING JUVENILE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 606, 4122, 4106 and 3950
REFERENCES FOR EGG ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 4103 and 4110
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
00080S = insecticides, heavy metals, and their effects are
discussed by sources *4103,4110,4102*; 99999S = will also nest on gentle
slopes of rocky islands *4113,606,4122,4106*
COMMENTS ON BREEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
00080S = effects of pollutants on breeding birds is
discussed *4102*; 99999S = will nest on gentle slopes of rocky islands;
breeds mainly in Gulf of St. Lawrence and Newfoundland
*606,4113,4122,4106,4102*
COMMENTS ON EGG ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
00080S = effects of insecticides and heavy metals on
eggshells are discussed *4103,4110*
Environment Associations - 2 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species gannet, northern
Species Id M040022
Date 26 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: adults mostly white, head and neck
coverts black, sexes similar, length 35-40 inches, wingspread 5.5 to 6
feet, weight 6-7 lbs, detailed account of age classes given by first
source *4122,606,624*; REPRODUCTION: breeding season = late April and
May *606,3950,4111*; incubation period 39-46 days, average 44 days
*2484,4122,4106,4111,3950,606*; reproductive periods/year = 1
brood/season, will occasionally lay second or third replacement clutch
if the others fail *3950,4111,4122,4106*; age at sexual maturity =
probably fourth or fifth year *4122,4106*; breeding behavior = colonial,
monogamous, mate for life *4122.4105,3950,2484,606*; minimum breeding
age = 5 years, occasionally 4 years *4107,4111,4122,4106*; clutch size =
1 *606,3950,4111,2484,4122,4106*; BEHAVIOR: territoriality = breeding
season, over nest site only *606,4111,4122,4106*; daily periodicity =
strictly diurnal *3950*; dispersion = from 2nd to fifth year, many
juveniles prospect at several colonies for suitable nest site *4104*;
migration = partial, first year juveniles have true migration along with
a small portion of older birds, majority of birds 2 years and older show
dispersive movements outside of breeding season *4100,606,3950*;
foraging strategy/site = plunge dive from heights of 30-100 feet or
greater, dive from water surface, scavenge from ships, usually swallow
food under water, feed in open water within limits of continental shelf
*4108,4109,3950,606,4122,4106*; nest site = on isolated islands, nest
consists of mud, seaweed and other floating debris
*4101,4102,606,4122,4106,3950,4113,2484*; development of young =
altricial and nidicolous, fledge at 84-97 days (ave. 90 days)
*3950,606,4111,2484,4122,4106*; parental care of young = both parents
incubate, feed, and brood chick (brood 2-3 weeks); adults are known to
adopt guillemot chicks (Cepphus gyrlle) but attempts to brood were
unsuccessful *4101,606,3950,4111,4122,4106*; ORIGIN: native
*700,3950,606*; POPULATION PARAMETERS: relative trend = world population
has increased 2.9% annually, numbers are not obvious at individual
gannetries due to immigration *4122,4106,4104,4102,4113*; mortality
rates = 6% of breeding adults, about 80% of young/subadults annually
*4111,4122,3950*; survival rates = breeding success 75-80%, hatching
success 82%, fledging success 78%; breeding adult life expecancy = 16.2
years, breeding success increases with experience; life expectancy =
20-21 years *4107,3950,4111,4122,4106*
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 700, 624, 3950, 606, 4101, 4100, 2484, 4104, 4109, 4107, 4102, 4108, 4113, 4111, 4122 and 4106
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species gannet, northern
Species Id M040022
Date 26 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Controlling pollution [thermal, chemical, physical]
Adverse Applying pesticides
Adverse Applying insecticides
REFERENCES FOR BENEFICIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 4103 and 4110
REFERENCES FOR ADVERSE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 4110 and 4103
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species gannet, northern
Species Id M040022
Date 26 AUG 96
References
606* Palmer, R.S. 1962. Handbook of North American Birds. I.
Yale Univ. Press New Haven, Conn:557.
624* Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S. 1966. Birds of North
America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Press New York,
N.Y:340.
700* Ornithology, Virginia Society of. 1979. Virginia's
Birdlife: An Annotated Check-list. Virginia Avifauna No. 2.
Virginia Society of Ornithology Lynchburg, Va:118.
706* Warren, B.H. 1890. Birds of Pennsylvania. Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania Penn:434.
758* (ed.)1982. Fish and wildlife. 50 CFR 10 (Code of Federal
Regulations). General Serv. Admin. Washington, D.C:7.
1901* Fowler, M.E. 1978. Miscellaneous waterbirds (Gaviiformes,
Podicipediformes, Procellariformes, Pelicaniformes, and
Charadriiformes). Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine Fowler, M.E. W.B.
Saunders Co. Phildelphia:213-217.
1913* Peters, H.S. 1936. A list of external parasites from birds
of the eastern part of the United States. Bird-Banding 7:9-27.
1952* MacDonald, J.W. 1965. Mortality in wild birds. Bird Study
12:181-195.
1959* Wilson, J.E., MacDonald, J.W. 1967. Salmonella infections
in wild birds. Brit. Vet. J. 123:212-219.
1992* Locke, L.N., Stotts, V., Wolfhard, G. 1970. An outbreak of
fowl cholera in waterfowl on the Chesapeake Bay. J. Wildl. Dis.
6:404-407.
2035* Palmer, S.F., Trainer, D.O. 1971. Newcastle Disease.
Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Wild Birds Davis, J.W.,
Anderson, R.C., Karstad, L., Trainer, D.O. The Iowa State
University Ames, Iowa:3-16.
2484* Bent, A.C. 1922. Life histories of North American petrels
and pelicans and their allies. Dover Publ., Inc. New York:355.
3950* Cramp, S., Simmons, K.E.L., (eds.). 1977. THE BIRDS OF THE
WESTERN PALEARTIC..
4100* Landsborough, T.A. 1974. The migration of the gannet: A
reassessment of British and Irish ringing dates. British Birds
67(3):89-103.
4101* Fairhurst, J. 1976. Gannet brooding guillemot chicks. Bird
References - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species gannet, northern
Species Id M040022
Date 26 AUG 96
Study 23(4):285-286.
4102* Nettleship, D.N. 1976. Gannets in North America: Present
numbers and recent population changes. Wilson Bull.
88(2):300-313.
4103* Parslow, J.L.F., Jefferies, D.J. 1977. Gannets and toxic
chemicals. British Birds 70(9):366-372.
4104* Nelson, J.B. 1977. Interchange between gannet colonies.
British Birds 70(3):127-128.
4106* Nelson, B. 1978. THE GANNET. T. & A.D. Poyser
Berkhamsted:336.
4107* Nelson, J.B. 1978. 120(1):132-133.
4108* Watson, P.S. 1981. Seabird observations from commercial
trawlers in the Irish Sea. British Birds 74(2):82-90.
4109* Brown, R.G.B. 1979. Seabirds of the Senegal upwelling and
adjacent waters. Ibis 121(3):283-292.
4110* Cooke, A.S. 1979. Egg shell characteristics of gannets
Sula bassana, shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis and great
black-backed gulls Larus marinus exposed to DDE and other
environmental pollutants. Environ. Pollut. 19(1)6:47-66.
4111* Nelson, J.B. 1966. The breeding biology of the gannet Sula
bassana on the Bass Rock, Scotland. Ibis 108:584-626.
4113* Fisher, J., Vevers, H.G.. The breeding distribution,
history, and population of the north Atlantic gannet. J. Anim.
Ecol.:173-213.
4122* Grubb, T.C., Jr. 1974. Olefactory navigation to the
nesting burrow in Leach's petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa). Anim.
Behav. 22(1):192-202.
References - 2