Growth of the nesting colony of slaty-backed gulls (Larus schistisagus) and plant cover degradation on Shelikan Island (Taui inlet, the Sea of Okhotsk)

Zelenskaya, L. A.; Хорева, М. Г.

doi:10.1134/s106741360602010x

Cited by 16 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…These fast-growing, nutritious and palatable plant species create large grazing areas of good quality in the vicinity of seabird colonies [ 60 , 61 ]. Previous studies have also shown that areas without seabirds are characterized by low-productivity tundra dominated by dwarf shrubs and forbs [ 18 , 55 , 62 ]. Similarly, on sub-Antarctic islands, nutrient subsidies from seabirds encourage a change from carpets of ferns and mosses to lush tussock grasslands [ 37 , 63 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Importance of Marine-Derived Nutrients Supplied by Planktivorous Seabirds to High Arctic Tundra Plant Communities

et al. 2016

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We studied the relative importance of several environmental factors for tundra plant communities in five locations across Svalbard (High Arctic) that differed in geographical location, oceanographic and climatic influence, and soil characteristics. The amount of marine-derived nitrogen in the soil supplied by seabirds was locally the most important of the studied environmental factors influencing the tundra plant community. We found a strong positive correlation between δ15N isotopic values and total N content in the soil, confirming the fundamental role of marine-derived matter to the generally nutrient-poor Arctic tundra ecosystem. We also recorded a strong correlation between the δ15N values of soil and of the tissues of vascular plants and mosses, but not of lichens. The relationship between soil δ15N values and vascular plant cover was linear. In the case of mosses, the percentage ground cover reached maximum around a soil δ 15N value of 8‰, as did plant community diversity. This soil δ15N value clearly separated the occurrence of plants with low nitrogen tolerance (e.g. Salix polaris) from those predominating on high N content soils (e.g. Cerastium arcticum, Poa alpina). Large colonies of planktivorous little auks have a great influence on Arctic tundra vegetation, either through enhancing plant abundance or in shaping plant community composition at a local scale.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Importance of Marine-Derived Nutrients Supplied by Planktivorous Seabirds to High Arctic Tundra Plant Communities

et al. 2016

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“…Nutrient enrichment consistently selects for fastgrowing species that outcompete slower-growing, more stress-tolerant species (Hooper et al 2005). Thus, Arctic areas fertilized by seabirds are characterized by highly productive grasslands as dominant vegetation, whereas regions without seabirds have low-productivity tundra vegetation dominated by dwarf shrubs and forbs (Croll et al 2005;Maron et al 2006;Zelenskaya and Khoreva 2006). Seabirds also generate a considerable amount of physical disturbance through their nesting activities that directly damage plant tissues (trampling, uprooting and pulling leaves off plants) and may play a large role in plant community dynamics around colonies (Gillham 1960;Sobey and Kenworthy 1979).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The structure of Cochlearia groenlandica population along the bird colony influence gradient (Hornsund, Spitsbergen)

et al. 2015

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In spite of general knowledge that guano deposited near seabird colonies enhances fertility of poor polar soils, improves primary production and influences the tundra plant community, there are very few quantitative studies concerning plant responses to ornithogenic fertilization on the population level. We studied density, size variability and proportions of generative to vegetative individuals of polar scurvygrass Cochlearia groenlandica along a seabird influence gradient in south-west Spitsbergen. We found the seabird colony effect to being a predominant factor determining local ascurvygrass population structure. Plant density was increasing starting from the foot of the cliff (820 ind/m 2 ) and reaching the highest value (7500 ind/m 2 ) about 30 m from the colony. This density peak was a result of the flowering plants occurring in the area above in the highest number which produced plenty of seeds germinating several metres below. The density of flowering plants was significantly correlated with the physical and chemical features of the soil but concerned only small individuals (1-4 cm), whose numbers were negatively correlated with the level of available nutrients, and large-sized (13-20 cm) plants, which were correlated positively. The only significant factor influencing flowering plant density along the bird colony gradient was the content of organic matter in the soil. In the control transect, total plant density was three orders of magnitude lower. No or weak correlations were found between plant density and soil characteristics along that transect. Our study supports the hypothesis that seabirds have fundamental importance not only for vegetation abundance in the nutrient-poor Arctic environment but also to determine plant population structure in the vicinity of large breeding colonies.

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“…Habitats formed in this way and rich in nutrients provide conditions for the growth of eutrophic vegetation but may also limit the development of species which prefer less rich habitats. Depending on requirements, tolerance and adaptation capabilities, species richness and plant community coverage (including cyanobacterial and algal assemblages) change (Theodose and Bowman 1997;Pennings et al 2005;Zelenskaya and Khoreva 2006;Smykla et al 2007). That way ornithocoprophilous habitats characterized by particular cyanobacterial and algal assemblages, mosses and vascular plant communities form in the range of nesting birds (Hogg and Morton 1983;Myrcha and Tatur 1991;Elvebakk 1994;Matuła et al 2007;Jakubas et al 2008;Richter et al 2009Richter et al , 2014Richter et al , 2015Zwolicki et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cyanobacterial and algal diversity in the vicinity of two different seabird colonies in Spitsbergen

Pietryka¹,

Richter²,

Matuła³

2016

Polish Polar Research

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Abstract:The aim of the study was to compare cyanobacterial and algal assemblages occurring in ornithocoprophilous habitats formed under the influence of two seabird colonies (mixed colony of piscivorous Uria lomvia and Rissa tridactyla and planktivorous Alle alle) nesting on the southwest side of Hornsund (Spitsbergen). Various influences of the bird colonies (e.g. surface trophy, treading) lead to the formation of ornithogenic habitats with quantitatively and qualitatively diverse cyanobacterial and algal assemblages. Only 6 species common to both habitats were identified, but due to their different proportions the similarity ended there. Cyanobacterial and algal assemblages of both ornithogenic habitats also react rather differently to the intensity of the bird colonies' influence. The assemblages located directly beneath piscivorous bird nests were characterized by a larger number of species, which decreased the farther from the colony it was. Cyanobacterial and algal assemblages located directly next to planktivorous bird nests were species poor, but species richness increased at locations farther from their direct influence. The obtained results confirmed that bird colonies characterized by different diet and behavior influenced the formation of two separate, quantitatively and qualitatively different cyanobacterial and algal assemblages. Species such as Eucapsis sp., Gleocapsopsis sp., Gloeothece sp., Woronichinia sp., Hematococcus sp. were characteristic for algae and cyanobacteria assemblages in the vicinity of piscivorous bird colonies, whereas Aphanocapsa sp., Gloeothece sp., Komvophoron minutum, Pseudanabaena sp., Gloeocystis sp. 2 occurred in the vicinity of planktivorous bird colonies.

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Growth of the nesting colony of slaty-backed gulls (Larus schistisagus) and plant cover degradation on Shelikan Island (Taui inlet, the Sea of Okhotsk)

Cited by 16 publications

References 4 publications

Importance of Marine-Derived Nutrients Supplied by Planktivorous Seabirds to High Arctic Tundra Plant Communities

Importance of Marine-Derived Nutrients Supplied by Planktivorous Seabirds to High Arctic Tundra Plant Communities

The structure of Cochlearia groenlandica population along the bird colony influence gradient (Hornsund, Spitsbergen)

Cyanobacterial and algal diversity in the vicinity of two different seabird colonies in Spitsbergen

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