Assessing year‐round habitat use by migratory sea ducks in a multi‐species context reveals seasonal variation in habitat selection and partitioning

Lamb, Juliet S.; Paton, Peter W. C.; Osenkowski, Jason E.; Badzinski, Shannon S.; Berlin, Alicia; Bowman, Timothy D.; Dwyer, Chris; Fara, Luke J.; Gilliland, Scott G.; Kenow, Kevin P.; Lepage, Christine; Olsen, Glenn H.; Perry, Matthew C.; Petrie, Scott A.; Savard, Jean‐Pierre L.; Savoy, Lucas; Schummer, Michael L.; Spiegel, Caleb S.; McWilliams, Scott R.

doi:10.1111/ecog.05003

Cited by 16 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…Satellite telemetry is a well‐established method for studying waterfowl migration, and provides the opportunity to examine the connectivity between wintering and breeding areas (Miller et al 2005, Yamaguchi et al 2008, Krementz et al 2011, 2012, Lamb et al 2020, Lepage et al 2020, Mallory et al 2020, Xu et al 2021). While telemetry studies have provided insight on winter habitat use for black ducks (Ringelman et al 2015, Monroe et al 2021), only one study has used satellite telemetry to assess movements throughout the annual cycle.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Migration chronology and movements of adult American black ducks Anas rubripes wintering in Nova Scotia, Canada

et al. 2021

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American black ducks, native to eastern North America, have been the focus of significant international conservation and management programs. The combined USA and Canadian population has traditionally been managed as a single population; however black duck demographics may vary by region. To help understand potential regional differences in black ducks, we used satellite telemetry to assess migratory chronology and movements of black ducks wintering near Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada, near the northern limits of their wintering range where numbers are increasing. Wintering black ducks from Nova Scotia did not leave the Atlantic Flyway and included both longer‐distance migrants (~ 1500 km north) and locally‐breeding individuals. None of our tracked ducks travelled south of Nova Scotia during any part of the annual cycle, indicating a population segment that never leaves Canada and is subject solely to Canadian harvest pressures. Band recovery data revealed that a small portion (2.4%) of black ducks originally banded during winter in Nova Scotia were recovered south along the east coast of the USA, indicating that some of these black ducks are subject to international harvest pressures. Our results show that there are differences in annual black duck movements even within a small part of their range, adding to the growing evidence that black duck populations show fine‐scale temporal and spatial structure. This structure will need to be considered in future interprovincial and international harvest management plans of this important species.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Migration chronology and movements of adult American black ducks Anas rubripes wintering in Nova Scotia, Canada

et al. 2021

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“…These changes in marine and inland habitats are generally studied by researchers from very different disciplines with limited cross‐communication. However, for sea ducks, loons, and other taxa that depend strongly on both environments (Schmutz, 2014), prediction of population trajectories will require not only identification of habitats used in each realm (Lamb et al, 2020), but also mechanistic models of how the locations and functions of habitats are changing in an evolving climate (Lovvorn et al, 2020; Rautio et al, 2011; Stillman et al, 2015). This need is especially important for federally threatened species such as Steller's and Spectacled Eiders, and other sea duck species such as Long‐tailed Ducks and King Eiders whose western Arctic populations are well below historical levels (Amundson et al, 2019; Suydam et al, 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of marine vs. freshwater proteins for egg‐laying and incubation by sea ducks breeding in Arctic tundra

et al. 2022

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Understanding dietary nutrient sources is fundamental to conserving sensitive species, especially as climate change alters food web dynamics. Migratory species that depend on both marine and terrestrial habitats face unique challenges, as the locations and quality of resources in the two realms may respond quite differently to environmental changes, with potential for spatial and temporal carryover effects. For sea ducks (Mergini) that winter at sea but move inland to breed, body size may determine their capacity to store nutrient reserves for later use in alternative habitats. We assessed ultimate sources of protein for reproduction in four sea duck species in northern Alaska: smaller‐bodied Long‐tailed Ducks and Steller's Eiders (Clangula hyemalis and Polysticta stelleri), and larger‐bodied Spectacled and King Eiders (Somateria fischeri and Somateria spectabilis). To assess the relative use of local freshwater foods vs. marine protein for both egg production and body maintenance of incubating females, we measured stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in egg membranes, red blood cells, marine and freshwater invertebrates, and vegetation. For egg production, isotope mixing models indicated that proteinaceous egg membranes of all four species were derived mostly (89%–95%) from freshwater foods on the breeding grounds, with broad individual variation in specific prey types selected by the larger species. For incubation, isotopes in red blood cells indicated that body maintenance of females also relied mainly (87%–91%) on freshwater foods in Long‐tailed Ducks and Steller's Eiders. However, incubating Spectacled and King Eiders obtained only about 60% of their protein from freshwater foods and the remainder from marine‐derived body tissues. The latter strategy allows the larger‐bodied species to incubate almost continuously, whereas the smaller species must take more frequent incubation breaks and generally incur higher rates of predation on eggs. Thus, depending on body size, cross‐seasonal effects of feeding conditions in marine habitats may strongly influence population processes well after the birds move to inland nesting sites. Although conservation programs on land and sea are often researched, planned, and administered by different agencies and organizations, our results emphasize the need to coordinate marine and land‐based efforts for species that integrate conditions across both environments.

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“…When asked about the potential of food source competition between guilds, participants provided mixed responses on the reasonableness of this explanation. While informants agreed that dabbling duck abundance is more strongly correlated to SAV than are the other two groups, niche breadth and overlap may also play a role in determining guild prominence in Back Bay (Bethke, 1991; Giustino et al., 2017; Lamb et al., 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of submerged aquatic vegetation and water quality on waterfowl abundance by foraging guild

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et al. 2022

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Back Bay, Virginia, has been documented as an important foraging area for waterfowl since at least the mid‐1800s. Expansive submerged plant beds historically supported diverse assemblages of non‐breeding waterfowl; however, coastal development and other anthropogenic influences have since led to fluctuations in submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and an associated decline in waterfowl abundance in the bay. To gain insight into the effects of environmental drivers on waterfowl foraging guilds, our study explores the effects of SAV frequency and water quality on the abundance of dabbling ducks, diving ducks and swans and geese in Back Bay. We use 8 years of SAV, water quality, and waterfowl monitoring data collected by state and federal agencies to model the effects of salinity, turbidity, pH and percent frequency of SAV on the relative abundance of waterfowl by foraging guild in Back Bay. The appropriateness of the data and reasonability of the preliminary results were then evaluated through semi‐structured interviews with 11 local informants representing state, federal and non‐governmental organizations. Quantitative results indicated that dabbling ducks are affected differently than other guilds by water quality and percent frequency of SAV. Thematic analysis of the interview data revealed a number of potential explanations for the model results, as well as highlighted areas of uncertainty in need of further research. In a test of face validity, participants demonstrated a significant degree of belief in turbidity, salinity and SAV as drivers of waterfowl abundance, but were not convinced by the potential effects of pH as demonstrated by the model. This mixed methods study provides insights that could potentially influence the management and conservation of non‐breeding waterfowl populations by challenging the assumption that particular environmental conditions serve all foraging groups equally.

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Assessing year‐round habitat use by migratory sea ducks in a multi‐species context reveals seasonal variation in habitat selection and partitioning

Cited by 16 publications

References 78 publications

Migration chronology and movements of adult American black ducks Anas rubripes wintering in Nova Scotia, Canada

Migration chronology and movements of adult American black ducks Anas rubripes wintering in Nova Scotia, Canada

Use of marine vs. freshwater proteins for egg‐laying and incubation by sea ducks breeding in Arctic tundra

Effects of submerged aquatic vegetation and water quality on waterfowl abundance by foraging guild

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