Evidence of Population Declines among Common Eiders Breeding in the Belcher Islands, Northwest Territories

Robertson, Gregory J.; Gilchrist, H. Grant

doi:10.14430/arctic1081

Cited by 70 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Inuit hunters are providing important observations on these changes that have subsequently been confirmed by scientific surveys (e.g., Robertson and Gilchrist 1998;Mallory et al 2003). While much of our evidence is presently circumstantial, the observations and oral reports documented here lay the baseline for directed surveys to confirm distributional extensions.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Breeding and Non-Breeding Range of Canada, Branta canadensis, and Cackling Geese, Branta hutchinsii, in the Eastern Canadian Arctic

Fontaine¹,

Boyd

2005

Can Field Nat

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The accepted breeding distribution of Canada Geese from the Atlantic Population (Branta canadensis interior) in the eastern Canadian Arctic is currently confined to northern Québec and the south coast of Baffin Island. Here we provide evidence based on observations from scientific studies, Inuit hunters, and territorial Wildlife Officers that B. c. interior now breeds in growing numbers 500 km farther north on northeastern Baffin Island than previously reported. Cackling Geese (B. hutchinsii), which breed more widely across eastern Arctic Canada, to about 72°N, may also be increasing there. Moreover, individuals of both species are seen occasionally as far north as Ellesmere Island in small flocks and within migrating or moulting flocks of Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens) or Brant (B. bernicla hrota), though none of these far northern stragglers are known to have bred. Whether these observations reflect a recent range expansion or improved distributional knowledge from more intensive recent survey efforts remains unknown.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Breeding and Non-Breeding Range of Canada, Branta canadensis, and Cackling Geese, Branta hutchinsii, in the Eastern Canadian Arctic

Fontaine¹,

Boyd

2005

Can Field Nat

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“…They may even nest in association with one another (Kistchinski and Flint, 1974;Götmark and Åhlund, 1988;Robertson and Gilchrist, 1998). Thus, surveys designed to assess the nesting density of one of these species should reliably assess all three (Komdeur et al, 1992).…”

Section: Interpretation Of Survey Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Clearly, island-by-island comparisons that recorded gains and losses between the two study periods would have been a much more powerful test. We were able to make this comparison with common eider data (Robertson and Gilchrist, 1998).…”

Section: Statistical Analysis: Constraints Imposed By Historical Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Population Trends of Gulls and Arctic Terns Nesting in the Belcher Islands, Nunavut

Gilchrist¹,

Robertson²

1999

ARCTIC

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ABSTRACT. Little information exists on the population trends of gulls and terns nesting in the Arctic. In 1997, we surveyed the number of glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus), herring gull (Larus argentatus), and arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) nests on the Belcher Islands (56˚00' -57˚30'N, 79˚30' -80˚00'W). We compared our results with the mean number of nests per island counted in the Belcher Islands in the late 1980s using the same survey methods. The mean number of gull nests per island had declined in all five archipelagos surveyed, and the decline was significant in three regions. The number of arctic tern nests had also declined in all three regions where they were originally present, although this decline was significant in only one region. The causes of these apparent declines are unknown. Adult mortality or emigration of gulls from the area may have occurred in response to changes in polynya formation during recent winters, which restricted access to marine food sources. Reproductive success of gulls may also be low in response to the recent 75% decline in common eiders nesting in the Belcher Islands. Eider eggs and ducklings are an important food source for gulls during the breeding season. The decline of nesting arctic terns may reflect either winter mortality of tern populations caused by unknown factors or emigration out of the Belcher Islands in response to regional egging and disturbance by local residents.Key words: arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea, Belcher Islands, glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus, herring gull, Larus argentatus, polynyas, population trends RÉSUMÉ. Il existe peu de renseignements sur les tendances dans les changements de population des mouettes et sternes qui nichent dans l'Arctique. En 1997, on a établi un relevé des nids du goéland bourgmestre (Larus hyperboreus), du goéland argenté (Larus argentatus) et de la sterne arctique (Sterna paradisaea) dans les îles Belcher (56˚ 00' -57˚ 30' de latit. N., 79˚ 30' -80˚ 00' de longit. O.). Nous avons comparé nos résultats avec le nombre moyen de nids par île comptés dans les îles Belcher à la fin des années 1980, en employant les mêmes méthodes de relevés. Le nombre moyen de nids de goélands par île a baissé dans les cinq archipels étudiés, et la baisse s'est révélée importante dans trois régions. Le nombre de nids de sternes arctiques avait également baissé dans les trois régions où elles étaient présentes à l'origine, bien que ce déclin ne fût important que dans une seule région. On ne connaît pas les causes de ces baisses apparentes. La mortalité adulte ou l'émigration des goélands de cette zone aurait pu se produire en réponse aux changements survenus dans la formation de la polynie au cours des derniers hivers -changements qui auraient limité l'accès aux aliments venant de la mer. Le succès de reproduction du goéland pourrait aussi être bas suite au déclin récent de 75 p. cent chez l'eider à duvet qui niche dans les îles Belcher. Les oeufs d'eider et les oisons constituent une importante source alimentaire pour les goélands durant la ...

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“…In the last decade, declines in the populations of Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) have been documented in various regions of the north, such as Hudson Bay, the Beaufort Sea, and western Greenland (Robertson and Gilchrist 1998;Suydam et al 2000;Merkel 2004). Factors identified as causing these declines include human disturbance, over-harvesting, and climatic events.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Suspected Long-Term Population Increases in Common Eiders, Somateria mollissima, on the Mid-Labrador Coast, 1980, 1994, and 2006

Chaulk

2009

Can Field Nat

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Aerial surveys for adult male Common Eiders, Somateria mollissima, were flown on the Labrador coast during June 2006. This information was then compared with aerial counts of adult male Common Eiders collected in 1980 and 1994. For each survey year, data were grouped and paired by coastal block and were analyzed for population trends. Overall, the observed counts of adult male Common Eiders increased by 244% between 1980 and 2006. Much of this increase seemed to occur in the southern region of the study area.

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Evidence of Population Declines among Common Eiders Breeding in the Belcher Islands, Northwest Territories

Cited by 70 publications

References 15 publications

Breeding and Non-Breeding Range of Canada, <em>Branta canadensis</em>, and Cackling Geese, <em>Branta hutchinsii</em>, in the Eastern Canadian Arctic

Breeding and Non-Breeding Range of Canada, <em>Branta canadensis</em>, and Cackling Geese, <em>Branta hutchinsii</em>, in the Eastern Canadian Arctic

Population Trends of Gulls and Arctic Terns Nesting in the Belcher Islands, Nunavut

Suspected Long-Term Population Increases in Common Eiders, <em>Somateria mollissima</em>, on the Mid-Labrador Coast, 1980, 1994, and 2006

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