Biomass of Dovekie Excreta in the Vicinity of a Breeding Colony

Stempniewicz, Lech

doi:10.2307/1521421

Cited by 30 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Deposited guano is decomposed by microorganisms, and the proportion of biogenic nutrients made available to plants is therefore a balance between decomposition and leaching or outwash rates (Heal and French 1974;Stempniewicz 2005). The rate at which nutrients delivered to the colony area return to the sea depends among other factors on local topography, precipitation and water runoff, vegetation type and cover (Pulina 1984;Stempniewicz 1990Stempniewicz , 2005. On High Arctic Svalbard, the two most common seabird colony types differ substantially in these respects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Guano deposition and nutrient enrichment in the vicinity of planktivorous and piscivorous seabird colonies in Spitsbergen

et al. 2012

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The crucial role of seabirds in the enrichment of nutrient-poor polar terrestrial ecosystem is well-known. However, no studies have examined the potentially different impacts associated with piscivorous and planktivorous bird colonies on the surrounding tundra soils. Therefore, we compared guano deposition and physical and chemical parameters of soil near two large seabird colonies, one of planktivorous little auks (Alle alle) and the other comprising piscivorous Brunnich's guillemots (Uria lomvia) and kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla). The two colonies generated similar levels of guano deposition, with the intensity of deposition decreasing away from the colony. Guano deposition adjacent to both colonies was considerably higher than that in control areas. The increased guano supply around colonies significantly enhanced soil conductivity, nitrogen (NO 3 -, NH 4 ? ), potassium (K ? ), and phosphate (PO 4 3-) ion concentrations and led to reduced pH values. Guano deposition explained 84 % (piscivorous colony) and 67 % (planktivorous colony) of the total variation in the tested soil parameters. Planktivore and piscivore colonies affected adjacent tundra in different ways. The phosphate content and pH value of soil influenced by piscivores were significantly higher than values measured in planktivore-influenced soil. The gradient of guano deposition and associated ion content in the soil decreased more rapidly with distance from the piscivore colony. Climate-induced changes in populations of planktivorous and piscivorous seabirds are expected in the study region and may therefore have substantial consequential effects on Arctic terrestrial ecosystems.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Guano deposition and nutrient enrichment in the vicinity of planktivorous and piscivorous seabird colonies in Spitsbergen

et al. 2012

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“…The little auk (Alle alle) is a planktivorous seabird, considered a keystone species in the Arctic ecosystem owing to its huge population and amphibious way of life during the breeding season (Stempniewicz 1990(Stempniewicz , 2001. It is believed that the little auk has the highest metabolic rate of all seabirds, due to its small size (ca.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Visual prey availability and distribution of foraging little auks (Alle alle) in the shelf waters of West Spitsbergen

et al. 2013

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As diving seabirds use vision underwater, it is presumed they should preferentially select sites where their preferred food items are not only abundant but also clearly visible. To test this, we studied the optical properties of the seawater in the West Spitsbergen Shelf, in combination with zooplankton abundance in the feeding grounds of the planktivorous little auks from the nearby colonies in Hornsund. We estimated the relative attractiveness of the foraging sites using a novel parameter-visual prey availability (VPAv), which relates density and proportion of the preferred food item (Calanus glacialis) of the little auk, in total zooplankton, to the optical properties of the seawater. We found a significant positive correlation between the density of foraging little auks and VPAv values. Birds chose areas where C. glacialis was both abundant and clearly visible, because of the clarity of the water and low proportion of other zooplankton species. The birds avoided foraging over the warmer Atlantic-type waters, characterised by a high abundance of zooplankton taxa mostly ignored by birds and where VPAv values were low. VPAv values could potentially also be applied to other visual planktivores for which prey preference and visual acuity are known.

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“…During the summer reproductive season, seabirds deposit considerable amounts of guano, as well as dead birds, chicks, feathers, egg shells and food remnants such as fish and/or crustaceans (Polis et al 1997;Bokhorst et al 2007). Stempniewicz (1990Stempniewicz ( , 1992 reports that during one breeding season in Hornsund (south-west Spitsbergen), little auks (Alle alle) deliver *60 t of guano dry mass per km 2 of colony area and *25 t around the colony. Odasz (1994) gives data of 150 kg guano deposited per day below the cliff inhabited by ca.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variability of polar scurvygrass Cochlearia groenlandica individual traits along a seabird influenced gradient across Spitsbergen tundra

et al. 2013

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In the resource-limited Arctic environment, vegetation developing near seabird colonies is exceptionally luxuriant. Nevertheless, there are very few detailed quantitative studies of any specific plant species responses to ornithogenic manuring. Therefore, we studied variability of polar scurvygrass Cochlearia groenlandica individual biomass and leaf width along a seabird influenced gradient determining environmental conditions for vegetation in south-west Spitsbergen. We found seabird colony effect being a paramount factor responsible for augmented growth of C. groenlandica. The species predominated close to the colony and reached the highest mean values of individual biomass (1.4 g) and leaf width (26.6 mm) 10 m below the colony. Its abundance and size declined towards the coast. Both C. groenlandica individual traits significantly decreased with distance from the colony, soil water and organic matter content and increased with guano deposition, soil d 15 N, conductivity, acidity and nitrate, phosphate and potassium ion content. Our study supports the hypothesis that seabirds have fundamental importance for vegetation growth in poor Arctic environment. Highly plastic species such as C. groenlandica may be a useful instrument in detecting habitat condition changes, for instance resulting from climate change.

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Biomass of Dovekie Excreta in the Vicinity of a Breeding Colony

Cited by 30 publications

References 3 publications

Guano deposition and nutrient enrichment in the vicinity of planktivorous and piscivorous seabird colonies in Spitsbergen

Guano deposition and nutrient enrichment in the vicinity of planktivorous and piscivorous seabird colonies in Spitsbergen

Visual prey availability and distribution of foraging little auks (Alle alle) in the shelf waters of West Spitsbergen

Variability of polar scurvygrass Cochlearia groenlandica individual traits along a seabird influenced gradient across Spitsbergen tundra

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