The Pelagic and Nearshore Birds of the Alaskan Beaufort Sea: Biomass and Trophics

Divoky, George J.

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-079030-2.50026-5

Cited by 19 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…It is not known if Arctic cod also move with the advancing ice. Black guillemots prey on Arctic cod at the advancing ice edge in autumn [6,18], and the size and depth of Arctic cod in the Bering are suitable for black guillemots [19]. While Arctic cod or alternative prey may be most available at the ice concentrations favoured by black guillemots in the MIZ, benefits offered by physical ice characteristics may play an important role in habitat preferences.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arctic sea ice a major determinant in Mandt's black guillemot movement and distribution during non-breeding season

2016

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Mandt's black guillemot ( Cepphus grylle mandtii ) is one of the few seabirds associated in all seasons with Arctic sea ice, a habitat that is changing rapidly. Recent decreases in summer ice have reduced breeding success and colony size of this species in Arctic Alaska. Little is known about the species' movements and distribution during the nine month non-breeding period (September–May), when changes in sea ice extent and composition are also occurring and predicted to continue. To examine bird movements and the seasonal role of sea ice to non-breeding Mandt's black guillemots, we deployed and recovered ( n = 45) geolocators on individuals at a breeding colony in Arctic Alaska during 2011–2015. Black guillemots moved north to the marginal ice zone (MIZ) in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas immediately after breeding, moved south to the Bering Sea during freeze-up in December, and wintered in the Bering Sea January–April. Most birds occupied the MIZ in regions averaging 30–60% sea ice concentration, with little seasonal variation. Birds regularly roosted on ice in all seasons averaging 5 h d −1 , primarily at night. By using the MIZ, with its roosting opportunities and associated prey, black guillemots can remain in the Arctic during winter when littoral waters are completely covered by ice.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arctic sea ice a major determinant in Mandt's black guillemot movement and distribution during non-breeding season

2016

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“…Various studies have reported the marine distribution of seabirds to be closely related to oceanographic structure over broad spatial scales (e.g., Griffiths et al, 1982;Hunt and Schneider, 1987). Specifically, patterns of seabird distribution and abundance have been linked to water masses and their constituent prey in the northern Bering Sea (Divoky, 1984;Elphick and Hunt, 1993). Although similar relationships have not been directly investigated for cetaceans in the Alaskan Arctic, whale association with depth and ice regimes (i.e., proxy water masses) provides an avenue for speculation.…”

Section: Seasonal Habitats and Trophic Relationshipsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cetacean Habitat Selection in the Alaskan Arctic during Summer and Autumn

Moore¹,

DeMaster²,

Dayton³

2000

ARCTIC

100

118

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ABSTRACT. Ten years of sighting data from aerial surveys offshore of northern Alaska were analyzed to investigate seasonal variability in cetacean habitat selection. Distinct habitats were described for bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus), white whales (Delphinapterus leucas), and gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) on the basis of habitat selection ratios calculated for bathymetric and ice cover regimes. In summer, bowheads selected continental slope waters and moderate ice conditions; white whales selected slope and basin waters and moderate to heavy ice conditions; and gray whales selected coastal/shoal waters and open water. In autumn, bowheads selected inner shelf waters and light ice conditions; white whales selected outer shelf and slope waters and moderate to heavy ice; and gray whales selected coastal and shoal/trough habitats in light ice and open water. Habitat differences among species were significant in both seasons (ANOVA F > 28, p < 0.00001). Interseasonal depth and ice cover habitats were significantly different for bowhead whales (p < 0.00002), but not for gray whales (p > 0.35). White whale depth habitat was significantly different between seasons (p < 0.00002), but ice cover habitat was not (p < 0.08).Key words: Alaska, Arctic, Beaufort Sea, bowhead whale, Chukchi Sea, gray whale, habitat selection, white whale RÉSUMÉ. Des données d'observation réalisées sur dix années (1982 -1991) grâce à des relevés aériens au large de l'Alaska septentrional ont été analysées dans le cadre de recherches sur la variabilité saisonnière dans la sélection de l'habitat des cétacés. On a décrit des habitats distincts pour la baleine boréale (Balaena mysticetus), la baleine blanche (Delphinapterus leucas) et la baleine grise de Californie (Eschrichtius robustus) en se fondant sur les taux de sélection de l'habitat calculés pour le régime bathymétrique et celui de la couverture de glace. En été, la baleine boréale choisissait les eaux de la pente continentale et des conditions de glace modérée; la baleine blanche choisissait les eaux de la pente continentale et du bassin océanique, et des conditions de glace allant de modérée à épaisse; et la baleine grise choisissait des eaux côtières et de hauts-fonds ainsi que l'eau libre. En automne, la baleine boréale choisissait les eaux intérieures du plateau continental, où se trouvait une faible concentration de glace; la baleine blanche choisissait les eaux à l'extérieur du plateau et sur la pente, ainsi qu'une glace allant de modérée à épaisse; et la baleine grise choisissait des habitats côtiers et de hauts-fonds ou des fossés à faible concentration de glace et à eau libre. Les différences d'habitat entre les espèces étaient importantes durant les deux saisons (ANOVA F > 28, p < 0,00001). D'une saison à une autre, les habitats différaient sensiblement quant à la profondeur et à la couverture de glace pour la baleine boréale (p < 0,00002), mais pas pour la baleine grise (p > 0,35). La profondeur de l'habitat pour la baleine blanche variait sensiblement d'une saison à u...

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“…The island has an anti-collision strobe-lighting system for birds consisting of 14 white lights mounted ~15 m above the ocean's surface along the island's perimeter; these lights fire asynchronously at 40 flashes/min with a daytime intensity of 20 000 candela and a nighttime intensity of 2000 candela (Day et al, 2005). Numerous bird species, including eiders, nest on nearby islands and the mainland and migrate through the surrounding area (Thompson and Person, 1963;Schamel, 1977;Richardson and Johnson, 1981;Johnson and Richardson, 1982;Divoky, 1984;Johnson and Herter, 1989;Suydam et al, 1997Suydam et al, , 2000aFischer and Larned, 2004).…”

Section: Study Area and Flaring Eventmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Gas Flaring on the Behavior of Night-migrating Birds at an Artificial Oil-production Island, Arctic Alaska

Day¹,

Rose²,

Prichard³

et al. 2015

ARCTIC

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ABSTRACT. We studied movement rates and the general flight behavior of bird flocks seen on radar and recorded visually at Northstar Island, Arctic Alaska, from 13 to 27 September 2002. Most of this period (13 -19 and 21 -27 September) had no gas-flaring events, but a major gas-flaring event occurred on the night of 20 September. Movement rates of targets on radar and of bird flocks recorded visually in the first ~50% -60% of the night were much lower during the non-flaring period than during the night of flaring, whereas rates in the last ~40% -50% of the night were similar in all periods. The general flight behavior of birds also differed significantly, with higher percentages of both radar targets and bird flocks exhibiting straight-line (directional) flight behaviors during the non-flaring periods and higher percentages of radar targets and bird flocks exhibiting non-straight-line (erratic and circling) flight behaviors during the gas-flaring period. During the night of gas flaring, the bright illumination appeared to have an effect only after sunset, when flocks of birds circled the island after being drawn in from what appeared to be a substantial distance from the island. On both radar and visual sampling, the number of bird flocks approaching the island declined over the evening, and the attractiveness of the light from flaring appeared to decline. The visibility of the moon appeared to have little effect on the behavior of birds. Because illumination from extensive gas-flaring is such a strong attractant to migrating birds and because most bird flocks fly at low altitudes over the water, flaring booms on coastal and offshore oil-production platforms in Arctic Alaska should be positioned higher than the mean flight altitudes of migrating birds to reduce the chances of incineration.Key words: Alaska; behavior; Clangula; collision; eider; gas flaring; gull; light attraction; loon; migration; sea duck; shorebird; Somateria RÉSUMÉ. Nous avons étudié les taux de déplacement et le comportement de vol général des troupeaux d'oiseaux captés par radar ou consignés visuellement à l'île Northstar, dans l'Alaska de l'Arctique, du 13 au 27 septembre 2002. Pendant presque toute cette période (du 13 au 19 et du 21 au 27 septembre), il n'y a pas eu de brûlage de gaz à la torche, mais la nuit du 20 septembre, il y a eu un important brûlage de gaz à la torche. Les taux de déplacement des cibles radar et des troupeaux d'oiseaux consignés visuellement pendant la première tranche d'environ 50 % à 60 % de la nuit étaient beaucoup moins élevés pendant la période où il n'y avait pas de brûlage à la torche que pendant la nuit où il y a eu brûlage à la torche, tandis que pendant la deuxième tranche d'environ 40 % à 50 % de la nuit, les taux de déplacement étaient semblables pendant toutes les périodes. Le comportement de vol général des oiseaux a également affiché une différence considérable. De plus grands pourcentages de cibles radar et de troupeaux d'oiseaux adoptaient un comportement de vol rectiligne (direct) pendant les péri...

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The Pelagic and Nearshore Birds of the Alaskan Beaufort Sea: Biomass and Trophics

Cited by 19 publications

References 15 publications

Arctic sea ice a major determinant in Mandt's black guillemot movement and distribution during non-breeding season

Arctic sea ice a major determinant in Mandt's black guillemot movement and distribution during non-breeding season

Cetacean Habitat Selection in the Alaskan Arctic during Summer and Autumn

Effects of Gas Flaring on the Behavior of Night-migrating Birds at an Artificial Oil-production Island, Arctic Alaska

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