Population Declines of King and Common Eiders of the Beaufort Sea

Suydam, Robert; Dickson, D. Lynne; Fadely, Janey B.; Quakenbush, Lori T.

doi:10.2307/1370428

Cited by 13 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…As with most sea ducks, it is a specialized feeder, diving to consume molluscs, especially blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, crustaceans and other benthic prey (Goudie et al, 2000). Since the early 1980s, population declines have been reported from several areas across their circumpolar range, with a variety of unknown causes being identified (Robertson & Gilchrist, 1998;Suydam et al, 2000;Camphuysen et al, 2002;Lehikoinen et al, 2008, Hario et al, 2009, while increases have been observed in other regions (Chaulk et al, 2005;Rail & Cotter, 2007;D'Alba et al, 2010). Starvation, disease, parasites, heavy metals in the food chain, oil pollution, predation, hunting pressure and habitat degradation have all been suggested as possible causes for mass die-offs of this and other species of eiders (Robertson & Gilchrist, 1998;Camphuysen et al, 2002;Bustnes & Galaktionov, 2004;Borgsteede et al, 2005;Miles et al, 2007;Descamps et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of petroleum hydrocarbons on the endoparasitic helminths of the common eider, Somateria mollissima, from Newfoundland

et al. 2010

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A comparison of commonly occurring metazoan parasites in the digestive tract was made between common eiders, Somateria mollissima, that were contaminated with oil and reference birds confiscated from illegal hunting. There was a greater number of commonly occurring parasites and their abundance in reference than in oiled eiders. Except for an acanthocephalan, Polymorphus botulus, which was embedded in the wall of the intestinal tract, most of the other taxa of parasites, including trematodes, cestodes and nematodes, were probably voided from the birds following ingestion of oil. Reference eiders harboured fewer species and a substantially lower mean abundance of parasites than those studied in Newfoundland and Labrador more than four decades ago; this may be a signal of a changing prey base or an increase in prey availability as winter ice cover continues to decline.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of petroleum hydrocarbons on the endoparasitic helminths of the common eider, Somateria mollissima, from Newfoundland

et al. 2010

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“…The highest permanent structures on the island are 40 to 50 m above sea level. Numerous bird species, including eiders, nest nearby and migrate through the surrounding area (Thompson and Person, 1963;Schamel, 1977;Richardson and Johnson, 1981;Johnson and Richardson, 1982;Divoky, 1984a, b;Johnson and Herter, 1989;Suydam et al, 1997Suydam et al, , 2000aFischer and Larned, 2004).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Eiders may also collide with land during periods of poor visibility (Mallory et al, 2001), which suggests a limited ability to avoid collision by changing course quickly. Common and King Eider populations in the Beaufort Sea have declined substantially (Suydam et al, 2000a), so any additional source of mortality is of concern.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of a Hazing-Light System on Migration and Collision Avoidance of Eiders at an Artificial Oil-Production Island, Arctic Alaska

Day¹,

Prichard²,

Rose³

et al. 2017

ARCTIC

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During migration, Common and King Eiders (Somateria mollissima and S. spectabilis) cross the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas of Arctic Alaska. Because they may become attracted to lights, eiders are susceptible to collision with structures, including offshore oil facilities. We used ornithological radar in 2001 – 04 to characterize the behavior of eiders migrating past Northstar Island, an oil-production island near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, and to assess the effects of a hazing-light system on migrating eiders. “Eider” radar targets exhibited pulsed, irregular periods of movement; movement rates were higher when sea ice was present, without precipitation, and during tailwinds and crosswinds but were not affected by lights. Velocities (ground speeds) were higher when ice was present and with strong tailwinds. They were lower at night when the lights were on, but higher during the day when the lights were on. Radar targets exhibited little variation in flight behavior as they passed the island; the proportion of non-directional behavior was larger when ice was present, with tailwinds, with weak winds, and near the full moon when it was not visible. Lights had no effect on flight behavior. Birds tended to exhibit more course changes as they approached the island, greater angular changes when they changed course, and larger net increases in passing distance as a result of those course changes when the lights were on; however, none of these differences were statistically significant. Overall, the hazing lights at Northstar did not disrupt the birds’ migratory movements but resulted in increased avoidance of the island.

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“…In the infrequent years of extreme ice when key wintering or staging areas become iced in or severely restricts access, a large proportion of birds may die (Barry 1967, fournier andHines 1994). If the Pacific Common Eider population of the Beaufort Sea continues to decline as it did from 1976 to 1996 (Suydam et al 2000a), such mortality could have a major effect on the population. As the pack ice continues to recede in the Arctic, major ice events become more likely (Mahoney et al 2004).…”

Section: Individual Variationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple Spring Migration Strategies in a Population of Pacific Common Eiders

Petersen

2009

Condor

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Resumen. Las estrategias migratorias de primavera varían en una misma especie y entre especies diferentes. El estudio de esta variabilidad permite extender nuestro entendimiento sobre historias de vida y tiene implicaciones para la conservación. Utilicé transmisores satelitales para determinar las estrategias migratorias y para evaluar los factores que afectan el momento en que ocurre la migración de los individuos de Somateria mollissima v-nigrum que anidan a lo largo de la costa oeste del Mar de Beaufort. Se equiparon hembras adultas con transmisores en las colonias de anidación durante los veranos de 2000, 2001 y 2003, las que fueron seguidas durante la migración de primavera al año siguiente. Cada año, aproximadamente las mismas proporciones de individuos de S. m. v-nigrum usaron tres estrategias migratorias diferentes que variaron en duración, en las localidades de parada (aguas cercanas a la Peninsula Chukotka, Rusia, y los mares de Chukchi y Beaufort, Alaska) y en las fechas de llegada a las áreas de anidación. Es poco probable que las diferencias en los momentos en que ocurren los movimientos hacia los puntos de parada en los mares de Chukchi y Beaufort sean el resultado de respuestas a cambios en el clima, particularmente cambios en la dirección del viento. La distribución del hielo y el derretimiento/patrones de movimiento entre las áreas de parada varían substancialmente y por lo tanto pueden tener un efecto sobre el riesgo de inanición y el potencial reproductivo. Cambios climáticos en el largo plazo (décadas) pueden favorecer a las aves que utilizan una estrategia en años más cálidos y otra en años más fríos.Abstract. Spring migration strategies vary within and among species. Examination of this variability extends our understanding of life histories and has implications for conservation. I used satellite transmitters to determine migration strategies and evaluate factors influencing the timing of spring migration of Pacific Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima v-nigrum) that nest along the western Beaufort Sea coast. Adult females were marked at nesting colonies in the summers of 2000, 2001, and 2003, and were followed throughout spring migration the following year. Each year approximately equal proportions of eiders used three distinct migration strategies varying in duration, staging locations (waters near the Chukotka Peninsula, Russia, and the Chukchi and Beaufort seas, Alaska), and arrival dates at the nesting areas. It is unlikely that differences in the timing of movements to stopover sites in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas were a result of responses to changes in weather, particularly wind direction. Ice distribution and melt/movement patterns vary substantially among staging areas and thus may affect risk of starvation and reproductive potential. Long-term (decadal) changes in climate may favor birds using one strategy during "warmer" and another during "colder" years.

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Population Declines of King and Common Eiders of the Beaufort Sea

Cited by 13 publications

References 4 publications

Influence of petroleum hydrocarbons on the endoparasitic helminths of the common eider, Somateria mollissima, from Newfoundland

Influence of petroleum hydrocarbons on the endoparasitic helminths of the common eider, Somateria mollissima, from Newfoundland

Effects of a Hazing-Light System on Migration and Collision Avoidance of Eiders at an Artificial Oil-Production Island, Arctic Alaska

Multiple Spring Migration Strategies in a Population of Pacific Common Eiders

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