Costs and benefits to Red-breasted Mergansers nesting in tern and gull colonies

Young, Andrew D.; Titman, Rodger D.

doi:10.1139/z86-348

Cited by 44 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…It appears that king eiders nesting on islands with nesting arctic terns have greater nesting success than those nesting on islands without terns. This phenomenon has been reported for other waterfowl species as well (Evans, 1970;Young and Titman, 1986).…”

Section: Nesting Associationssupporting

confidence: 82%

Breeding Biology of King Eiders Nesting on Karrak Lake, Northwest Territories

Kellett¹,

Alisauskas²

1997

ARCTIC

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ABSTRACT. We studied various aspects of the breeding biology of king eiders (Somateria spectabilis) nesting at Karrak Lake, south of Queen Maud Gulf in the central Canadian Arctic. We found 41 nests distributed among 10 islands in Karrak Lake; to our knowledge, this represents the largest number of king eider nests studied at one site. We suspect that island nesting by king eiders is more common than has been previously reported. King eiders favoured mid-sized islands (0.002 -0.081 km 2 ) over very small (less than 0.002 km 2 ) or very large (greater than 0.081 km 2 ) islands. Mean clutch size was 5.4 ± 1.7 (SD) eggs. Apparent nest success was 69.4%, with a composite Mayfield estimate of nest success over egg laying and incubation of 48.7% (95% CI: 47.4 -50.0%). Nest success was uncorrelated with date of nest initiation or island size, but eiders nesting on islands farther from the mainland had greater success than those nesting on islands closer to the mainland. Additionally, nest success was greater on islands with more nesting eiders and on islands with nesting arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea).

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Section: Nesting Associationssupporting

confidence: 82%

Breeding Biology of King Eiders Nesting on Karrak Lake, Northwest Territories

Kellett¹,

Alisauskas²

1997

ARCTIC

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“…Scaup were frequently found nesting in larid colonies. Ducks and other aquatic birds (e.g., grebes) apparently benefit from such associations because larids are effective at defending the nesting area against some types of predators (Koskimies, 1957;Hilden, 1964;Kistchinski and Flint, 1974;Newton and Campbell, 1975;Nuechterlein, 1981;Burger, 1984;Young and Titman, 1986;Burger and Gochfeld, 1995). However, such advantages might be offset by high duckling mortality when ducks nest among highly predatory larids, such as California gulls (Larus californicus) and herring gulls (Larus argentatus) (Vermeer, 1968;Dwernychuk and Boag, 1972).…”

Section: Habitat Usementioning

confidence: 99%

Breeding Ecology of Sympatric Greater and Lesser Scaup (<i>Aythya marila</i> and <i>Aythya affinis</i>) in the Subarctic Northwest Territories

Fournier¹,

Hines²

2001

ARCTIC

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ABSTRACT. We studied the breeding ecology of greater and lesser scaup on islands of the North Arm of Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, and on the nearby mainland during 1990 -98. The occurrence of nests of both species on the North Arm islands was determined primarily by the distribution of nesting gulls and terns and secondarily by habitat features. Nest parasitism was frequent on the islands, but not on the mainland. Average clutch size was 8.99 ± 0.12 (n = 169) for greater scaup and 9.20 ± 0.17 (n = 93) for lesser scaup on the North Arm, and 8.71 ± 0.18 (n = 55) for lesser scaup on the mainland. No greater scaup nests were found on the mainland. Apparent nest success on the islands was higher (greater scaup 75%, n = 271; lesser scaup 77%, n = 158) than on the mainland (lesser scaup 37%, n = 59). Apparent egg success was 63% (n = 1485) for greater scaup and 67% (n = 934) for lesser scaup on the islands, and 40% (n = 435) for lesser scaup on the mainland. Hatchability of eggs was 98% (n = 556) for greater scaup and 94% (n = 416) for lesser scaup on islands, and 98% (n = 435) for lesser scaup on the mainland. Our findings, when compared to those of previous studies, do not indicate that either clutch size or egg hatchability has declined in recent years. Therefore, it seems unlikely that broad changes in these reproductive parameters are responsible for local or continental declines in lesser scaup populations. However, nest success on our mainland study area may have been too low to maintain the local population.Key words: Aythya affinis, Aythya marila, boreal forest, egg success, greater scaup, lesser scaup, hatchability, nest success, Northwest Territories, Subarctic RÉSUMÉ. De 1990 à 1998, on a étudié l'écologie de reproduction du fuligule milouinan et du petit fuligule sur des îles situées dans le Bras-Nord du Grand Lac des Esclaves (Territoires du Nord-Ouest) ainsi que sur la terre ferme avoisinante. La présence, dans les îles du Bras-Nord, de nids appartenant aux deux espèces était surtout déterminée par la distribution des mouettes et des sternes, et en second lieu par les caractéristiques de l'habitat. Le piratage des nids était fréquent sur les îles, mais pas sur la terre ferme. La taille moyenne des couvées était de 8,99 ± 0,12 (n = 169) pour le fuligule milouinan et de 9,20 ± 0,17 (n = 93) pour le petit fuligule dans le Bras-Nord, et de 8,71 ± 0,18 (n = 55) pour le petit fuligule sur la terre ferme. On n'a pas trouvé de nids de fuligule milouinan sur la terre ferme. Le succès apparent de la nidification sur les îles était plus grand (fuligule milouinan: 75 p. cent, n = 271; petit fuligule: 77 p. cent, n = 158) que sur la terre ferme (petit fuligule: 37 p. cent, n = 59). Le succès apparent de la ponte était de 63 p. cent (n = 1485) pour le fuligule milouinan et de 67 p. cent (n = 934) pour le petit fuligule sur les îles, et de 40 p. cent (n = 435) pour le petit fuligule sur la terre ferme. L'éclosabilité était de 98 p. cent (n = 556) pour le fuligule milouinan et de 94 p. cent (n = 416) pour le...

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“…Higher duck nest densities are generally observed close to gull colonies (Koskimies 1957;Hilden 1965;Dwernychug and Boag 1972) where nest predation may be lower (Bengtson 1972;Newton and Campbell 1975;Young and (Sullivan and Dinsmore 1990;Albrecht et al 2006). This result is in accordance with the specific habitat use of Pochard in fishpond regions (Havlin 1966).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We compared the distribution of breeding ducks versus three other bird species used as habitat quality indicators (Mute Swan Cygnus olor, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus and Purple Heron Ardea purpurea) among fishponds. Paired Mute Swans are suspected to negatively influence duck pair distribution by their aggressive territorial behaviour (Willey 1968;Reese 1975;Ciaranca 1990;Conover and Kania 1994), while anti-predator strategy of Black-headed Gull colonies could benefit to breeding waterfowl (Bengtson 1972;Newton and Campbell 1975;Young and Titman 1986;Väänänen 2000). Purple Heron is an indicator species of reedbeds that are flooded during the waterfowl breeding period, without sudden water level variations (Moser 1984;Broyer et al 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compared distribution within a disturbed fishpond ecosystem of breeding ducks and bird species indicators of habitat quality

Broyer

2009

J Ornithol

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The distribution of breeding ducks versus three other bird species (Mute Swan Cygnus olor, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus and Purple Heron Ardea purpurea) among waterbodies was investigated in the Dombes area, Eastern France, where breeding duck populations have undergone a severe decline following a large-scale transformation of meadow habitat into cropland. Higher Pochard Aythya ferina, Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula, Redcrested Pochard Netta rufina and Gadwall Anas strepera pair densities were recorded in fishponds where Blackheaded Gulls were nesting. In these ponds however, nesting success (assessed by the number of broods divided by the number of pairs) was not significantly higher. Similarly, Pochard pair density was higher in ponds with a Purple Heron colony, but brood densities were not. We hypothesise that, in the study region, clutch concentration in the most attractive areas could compensate for the anti-predation effect of gull colonies or overwater nesting in shore vegetation. We could not confirm the expected negative impact of Mute Swan aggressive behaviour on duck distribution. Even though Mallard Anas platyrhynchos pair density was lower in ponds with breeding swans, we did not observe difference for Mallard broods. Moreover, Redcrested Pochard pair density and nesting success were higher in ponds where swans were breeding, probably as a consequence of shared habitat preferences.

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Costs and benefits to Red-breasted Mergansers nesting in tern and gull colonies

Cited by 44 publications

References 15 publications

Breeding Biology of King Eiders Nesting on Karrak Lake, Northwest Territories

Breeding Biology of King Eiders Nesting on Karrak Lake, Northwest Territories

Breeding Ecology of Sympatric Greater and Lesser Scaup (<i>Aythya marila</i> and <i>Aythya affinis</i>) in the Subarctic Northwest Territories

Compared distribution within a disturbed fishpond ecosystem of breeding ducks and bird species indicators of habitat quality

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