The European wintering population of Steller’s Eider <i>Polysticta stelleri</i> reassessed

Aarvak, Tomas; Øien, Ingar Jostein; Krasnov, Yu. V.; Gavrilo, Maria; Shavykin, Anatoly

doi:10.1017/s0959270912000251

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…This can be observed as an overall increase in winter abundance of waterbirds, because part of the population of some species (mainly diving ducks) that formerly wintered further to the southwest now remain in the Baltic Sea (Pavón-Jordán et al, 2019). Many species show decreasing trends in abundance in the southern parts of their wintering ranges (typically in western and southern Europe) but increases near the northern edge of their distribution, typically the Baltic Sea region (MacLean et al, 2008;Skov et al, 2011;Aarvak et al, 2013;Lehikoinen et al, 2013;Pavón-Jordán et al, 2015;Nilsson and Haas, 2016;Marchowski et al, 2017;Fox et al, 2019). Similar shifts are seen in species that traditionally wintered in the Baltic Sea, but currently show declining wintering numbers there, as part of the population now winters in the White, Barents and Kara seas (Fox et al, 2019).…”

Section: Waterbirdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Change in the Baltic Sea Region: A Summary

Meier

Kniebusch

Dieterich

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Abstract. Based on the Baltic Earth Assessment Reports of this thematic issue in Earth System Dynamics and recent peer-reviewed literature, current knowledge about the effects of global warming on past and future changes in climate of the Baltic Sea region is summarized and assessed. The study is an update of the Second Assessment of Climate Change (BACC II) published in 2015 and focusses on the atmosphere, land, cryosphere, ocean, sediments and the terrestrial and marine biosphere. Based on the summaries of the recent knowledge gained in paleo-, historical and future regional climate research, we find that the main conclusions from earlier assessments remain still valid. However, new long-term, homogenous observational records, e.g. for Scandinavian glacier inventories, sea-level driven saltwater inflows, so-called Major Baltic Inflows, and phytoplankton species distribution and new scenario simulations with improved models, e.g. for glaciers, lake ice and marine food web, have become available. In many cases, uncertainties can now be better estimated than before, because more models can be included in the ensembles, especially for the Baltic Sea. With the help of coupled models, feedbacks between several components of the Earth System have been studied and multiple driver studies were performed, e.g. projections of the food web that include fisheries, eutrophication and climate change. New data sets and projections have led to a revised understanding of changes in some variables such as salinity. Furthermore, it has become evident that natural variability, in particular for the ocean on multidecadal time scales, is greater than previously estimated, challenging our ability to detect observed and projected changes in climate. In this context, the first paleoclimate simulations regionalized for the Baltic Sea region are instructive. Hence, estimated uncertainties for the projections of many variables increased. In addition to the well-known influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation, it was found that also other low-frequency modes of internal variability, such as the Atlantic Multidecadal Variability, have profound effects on the climate of the Baltic Sea region. Challenges were also identified, such as the systematic discrepancy between future cloudiness trends in global and regional models and the difficulty of confidently attributing large observed changes in marine ecosystems to climate change. Finally, we compare our results with other coastal sea assessments, such as the North Sea Region Climate Change Assessment (NOSCCA) and find that the effects of climate change on the Baltic Sea differ from those on the North Sea, since Baltic Sea oceanography and ecosystems are very different from other coastal seas such as the North Sea. While the North Sea dynamics is dominated by tides, the Baltic Sea is characterized by brackish water, a perennial vertical stratification in the southern sub-basins and a seasonal sea ice cover in the northern sub-basins.

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Section: Waterbirdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Change in the Baltic Sea Region: A Summary

Meier

Kniebusch

Dieterich

et al. 2021

Preprint

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“…However, as a result of the concern, targeted winter helicopter surveys found that these birds had shifted their wintering distributions from Norwegian and Baltic Sea resorts further north and east into Russian waters, which now support 85% of the flyway population, compared with less than 50% in the 1990s (Aarvak et al . ). Throughout Russian Arctic areas, we lack observers to report the presence/absence of waterbirds in these waters, especially during 24 h of darkness, so we have no understanding of how wintering waterbirds have potentially adapted to the availability of open water in these areas.…”

mentioning

confidence: 97%

Climate‐change not only threatens bird populations but also challenges our ability to monitor them

Fox

Nielsen

Petersen

2018

Ibis

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Mid-winter sea surface temperatures in the Barents and Kara Seas have shown amplified warming since the mid-2000s, rapidly removing winter sea-ice from very extensive areas along the northern Russian Arctic coast, associated with reductions in the extent of winter sea-ice in the White and Baltic Seas, as well as ice cover in coastal and inland freshwaters throughout the region. Recent northern European studies have shown substantial north and east shifts in the wintering distributions of in particular diving duck species compared with their former distributions in response to climate warming. The very sudden availability of open water in the Russian Arctic offers novel overwintering habitat especially to sea ducks in the marine environment, but also to other species using currently unsurveyed brackish and freshwater areas far to the north and east of their former wintering range. These major climate change effects constitute a particular challenge to our abilities to monitor adequately the distribution and abundance of many of our common ducks, especially the sea ducks, quarry species and other waterbirds of conservation importance, but also potentially many other terrestrial bird populations.

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“…Miller-Rushing et al 2008, Tryjanowski et al 2005. The decline in the Norwegian Steller's Eider wintering population is most likely caused by an eastward shift in distribution, with a larger share of the population now wintering in Russia (Aarvak et al 2012). The present January count was 15 % lower than the count in 2009 for Norway for the similar count section (holding approx.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The present January count was 15 % lower than the count in 2009 for Norway for the similar count section (holding approx. 75 % of the Norwegian wintering population), and representing 6.7 % of the total European count from that year (Aarvak et al 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the causes of decline are largely unknown, Steller's Eiders face a number of anthropogenic and climatic threats, including bycatch in gillnet fisheries, oil spills and habitat loss (Pihl 2001, Zydelis et al 2006a, BirdLife International 2016. In Europe, the largest winter populations are found in Russia and northern Norway (Aarvak et al 2012, BirdLife International 2015. The Norwegian range is largely confined to the northern coastline of the Varangerfjord, although flocks are frequently found further west along the coast according to the Norwegian Species Observations System Artsobservasjoner (www.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Winter distribution of Steller's Eiders in the Varangerfjord, northern Norway

Heggøy¹,

Øien²,

Aarvak³

2019

Ornis Norv.

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Arctic warming and decreasing sea-ice cover along the Siberian coast in the Arctic Ocean leads to greater accessibility for operations such as oil drilling and traffic of tankers. This implies increasing risks for Steller’s Eider Polysticta stelleri wintering, moulting and staging along the coasts of the Varanger Peninsula, Norway. Steller’s Eiders were surveyed by monthly counts during winter and early spring 2016/2017 to investigate numbers and distribution throughout the winter. The highest number of wintering Steller’s Eiders was found in January, representing ~7 % of the European population. In February–April numbers were lower, but at a rather stable level. We found relatively little variation in distribution between months, although the birds were more evenly distributed along the coast later in winter. Mean flock size was significantly larger in January than in March and April. Feeding behaviour was exclusively observed in shallow water, generally at depths of up to 6 m. Areas of focus for an oil pollution emergency plan are pointed out and discussed.

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The European wintering population of Steller’s Eider Polysticta stelleri reassessed

Cited by 10 publications

References 6 publications

Climate Change in the Baltic Sea Region: A Summary

Climate Change in the Baltic Sea Region: A Summary

Climate‐change not only threatens bird populations but also challenges our ability to monitor them

Winter distribution of Steller's Eiders in the Varangerfjord, northern Norway

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