First of all watch the video on niche and habitat of gannets at Muriwai
Read the information below about the niche Gannets fill at Muriwai.
Habitat:
Coastal waters breeding mostly on crowded colonies on small islands or isolated cliffs
Physical environment:
- require warm temperatures
- Require a metre space between breeding pairs to prevent other adults attacking the egg
Biological/Biotic factors
- presence of shoals of small fish such as anchvies pilchards and mullets within range of breeding sites.
- Some predation of chicks by gulls.
Special adaptations for survival.
- Inflatable airbags under the skin on their chests to cushion the impact of diving below the waves to catch fish.
- Nostrils are inside their mouth to avoid pressure problems in their lungs when fishing. (equivalent to holding your nose if you are doing a dive bomb from height.)
- Breed in large colonies on isolated cliff tops to minimise predation of chicks.
- Form lifelong pair bonds but separate during winter.
- Webbed feet with lots of blood vessels to help keep a single egg warm.
- Young migrate to Australia for a year. Helps reduce pressure on the colony.
Feeding Role:
Carnivores which consume small fish and squid by performing deep dives at high speeds. (hitting the water at speeds up to 150km/, the average speed of a V8 racing in Hamilton).