![Sample our Environment & Agriculture journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5934/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Environment-Agriculture.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
The diet of breeding Dalmatian pelicans (Pelecanus crispus) was studied at Lake Mikri Prespa National Park, Greece during May and June of 1992, 1993, 1995, and 1996. Analyses of chicks' regurgitates obtained from the Mikri Prespa nesting colony showed that Dalmatian pelicans predominantly consumed Chalcalburnus belvica, an endemic fish restricted to lakes Mikri and Megali Prespa, i.e., they exploited exclusively local fish resources during breeding. We found within-breeding season, as well as annual variation in mean weight and length of the fish captured, but no year-to-year variation in mean weight of regurgitates (about 384 g). C. belvica was the most abundant fish in the total commercial catch from the Prespa lakes. Hatching of Dalmatian pelican eggs at Mikri Prespa Lake coincided with schooling and spawning of C. belvica. The prolonged period of multiple spawning (until August) provided pelicans with a continuous food supply throughout breeding. This coincidence, combined with the abundance and availability of C. belvica, may explain the exclusive choice of this prey from more than 20 fish species found in the Prespa Lakes. We may, therefore, relate successful breeding and possible choice of nesting site of Dalmatian pelicans to the presence and availability of C. belvica.