Typology of Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) Nesting Colonies in the Azov-Black Sea Region of Ukraine
Abstract
This study presents an analysis of the nesting settlement typology of the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) in the Azov-Black Sea region of Ukraine. It was established that cormorants actively utilize a wide range of habitats for colony establishment, with a preference for natural islands of marine, riverine, and lagoon origin, where optimal conditions for successful nesting are formed. The choice of nesting sites is influenced by the availability of building materials, elevation above water level, distance from the mainland, and the presence of protection from predators. Cormorants build their nests on sandy-shell, clay, and rocky islands, as well as within vegetation cover, selecting trees, shrubs, and reeds.
A particularly interesting aspect is the cormorants' ability to adapt to nesting on man-made structures such as gas platforms, power line pylons, and sunken ships. This phenomenon is becoming increasingly widespread due to the limited availability of natural nesting sites, which is a consequence of anthropogenic impact, and reflects the species’ adaptation to environmental changes. An analysis of 72 colonies revealed that the number of birds significantly increases on artificial structures despite the annual removal of nests during maintenance operations. Cormorants demonstrate high resilience to such interventions, rebuilding their colonies even after destruction.
The study also examined the influence of various factors on nest site selection, including island area, availability of building materials, elevation above water level, and distance from the mainland and human settlements. A direct correlation was found between the number of nests and the size of the nesting territory. Additionally, it was noted that colonies located on islands closer to the mainland face higher risks due to increased accessibility for predators and humans.
This research provides new insights into the nesting ecology of the Great Cormorant in Ukraine and highlights the importance of further studies on the impact of artificial structures on the species’ nesting behavior.
Downloads
References
Horlov, P.I., Siokhin, V.D. (2015). Threat of tree loss in the Obytichna Spit landscape reserve due to nesting settlements of the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). Melitopol Local History Readings. Materials of the II Regional Scientific-Practical Conference (December 11, 2014, Melitopol). Melitopol City Museum of Local History, MDPU, Union of Local Historians of Melitopol Region, Melitopol, 12–18. (in Ukrainian)
Horlov, P.I., Siokhin, V.D., Kostyushin, V.A. (2015b). Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) on the Obitochnaya Spit of the Azov Sea. Bulletin of the Zaporizhia National University. Biological Sciences, 2, 33–69. (in Ukrainian)
Sydorenko, A.I. (2015). Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and Yellow-legged Gull (Larus cachinnans) on Syvash: Is there competition? Biology: From Molecule to Biosphere. Proceedings of the X International Conference of Young Scientists (December 2–4, 2015, Kharkiv). FOP Shapovalova T.M., Kharkiv, 184–185. (in Ukrainian)
Sydorenko, A.I. (2022). Current state of the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo L.) population in the Azov-Black Sea region of Ukraine. Branta: Collection of Scientific Papers of the Azov-Black Sea Ornithological Station, 24, 23–46. (in Ukrainian)
Sydorenko, A.I., Siokhin, V.D. (2016). Nesting of the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) on anthropogenic structures in Ukraine. Bulletin of Dnipropetrovsk University. Biology, Ecology, 24(2), 308–316. http://dx.doi.org/10.15421/011640 (in Ukrainian)
Andriushchenko, Y.A., Siokhin, V.D., Chernychko, R.N., Matsura, A.V. (2000). Central Syvash. In Abundance and distribution of nesting waterfowl in the wetlands of the Azov-Black Sea coast of Ukraine (Ed. V. D. Siokhin), pp. 217–250. Melitopol, Kyiv: Branta.
Chernychko, R.N. (2008). Current state of Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) nesting sites in the Molochnyi Liman wetland. Branta: Collection of Papers of the Azov-Black Sea Ornithological Station, 11, 113–121.
Collas, M., Burgun, V. (2011). Development of great cormorant population (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) in North-East France – Synthesis of long-term monitoring (1997–2008). Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems, 403, 5. https://doi.org/10.1051/kmae/2011061
Horlov, P. I., Siokhin, V. D., Belashkov, I. D. (2016). Kakhovka Reservoir in the area of Enerhodar. The role of various wetlands for the nesting population of the Great Cormorant in Ukraine. In The Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) in Ukraine: Abundance, territorial distribution, and changes (Eds. V.A. Kostyushyn, P.I. Horlov, V.D. Siokhin). I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, 182–189. (Proceedings of the Zoological Journal, Special Issue 34)
Jepsen, N., Olesen, T. (2013). Cormorants in Denmark: Re-enforced management and scientific evidence. In Human–Wildlife Conflicts in Europe: Fisheries and Fish-eating Vertebrates as a Model Case. Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, 165–183.
Klimaszyk, P., Rzymski, P. (2016). The complexity of ecological impacts induced by great cormorants. Hydrobiologia, 771(1), 13–30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-015-2618-1
Mainwaring, M.C. (2015). The use of man-made structures as nesting sites by birds: A review of the costs and benefits. Journal of Nature Conservation, 25, 17–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2015.02.007
Nikolov, I., Shurulinkov, P., Borisov, B. (2014). Status of the breeding population of Great Cormorants in Bulgaria in 2012. In Breeding numbers of Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo in the Western Palearctic, 2012-2013 (Eds. T. Bregnballe et al.). Danish Centre for Environment and Energy, Aarhus University, 78–81.
Petrovych, Z.O., Redinov, K.A. (2016). Kinburn Peninsula and Berezan Island. The role of various wetlands for the nesting population of the Great Cormorant in Ukraine. In The Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) in Ukraine: Abundance, territorial distribution, and changes (Eds. V.A. Kostyushyn, P.I. Horlov, V.D. Siokhin). I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, 32–34. (Proceedings of the Zoological Journal, Special Issue 34).
Rudenko, A.H., Ardamatskaia, T.B., Yaremchenko, O.A. (2008). Long-term monitoring of Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) colonies in the northern Black Sea bays. Branta: Collection of Papers of the Azov-Black Sea Ornithological Station, 11, 43–60.
Šćiban, M., Đorđević, I., Stanković, D., et al. (2014). Status of the breeding population of Great Cormorants in Serbia in 2012. In Breeding numbers of Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo in the Western Palearctic, 2012-2013 (Eds. T. Bregnballe et al.). Danish Centre for Environment and Energy, Aarhus University, 194–197.
Siokhin, V.D. (2008). Distribution and abundance of the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) on the northwestern coast of the Sea of Azov and in Syvash. Branta: Collection of Papers of the Azov-Black Sea Ornithological Station, 11, 66–88.
Siokhin, V.D., Kostyushyn, V.A., Horlov, P.I., Sydorenko, A.I. (2016). Nesting habitats of the Great Cormorant. History of settlement, current distribution, and population dynamics during the nesting period, types of Great Cormorant colonies. In The Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) in Ukraine: Abundance, territorial distribution, and changes (Eds. V.A. Kostyushyn, P.I. Horlov, V.D. Siokhin). I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, 32–34. (Proceedings of the Zoological Journal, Special Issue 34).
Szinai, P. (2014). Status of the breeding population of Great Cormorants in Hungary in 2013. In Breeding numbers of Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo in the Western Palearctic, 2012-2013 (Eds. T. Bregnballe et al.). Danish Centre for Environment and Energy, Aarhus University, 121–125.
The Third Planet. (2024). Area Calculator Tool By Maps. https://3planeta.com/googlemaps/google-maps-area-calculator-tools.html (Accessed: October 25, 2024)
Volponi, S. (1999). Reproduction of a newly-established population of the Great Cormorant in Northeastern Italy. Waterbirds, 22(2), 263–273. https://doi.org/10.2307/1522214
Yakovlev, M.V. (2008). Current state of the Great Cormorant population in the Danube Biosphere Reserve. Branta: Collection of Papers of the Azov-Black Sea Ornithological Station, 11, 122–125.
Authors retain copyright of their work and grant the journal the right of its first publication under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0), that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship.
