The Influence of Age on the Breeding Biology of Colonial Nesting Seabirds

Ryder, John P.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4684-2988-6_5

Cited by 69 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Survival times of chicks increased significantly after capelin arrival, and mean nest shift durations compared more closely to those observed in other studies, indicating that food was adequate at that time. Delayed capelin arrival in 1992 resulted in a reversal of the relationship normally observed between early breeding and success, which has been attributed to age and experience (Coulson & White 1958, Montevecchi 1978b, Ryder 1980, Nelson 1988, Sydeman et al 1991. Although early breeders hatched more eggs than late breeders in 1992, late breeders raised more chicks (see also Hatch 1990).…”

Section: /-'---Lmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactive effects of food shortage and predation on breeding failure of black-legged kittiwakes:indirect effects of fisheries activities and implications for indicator species

Regehr¹,

Montevecchi²

1997

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

131

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ABSTRACT. We investigated the roles of food shortage and predation in anticipated breeding failure of black-legged kittiwakes Rlssa trldactyla at Great Island, Kr~tless Bay, Newfoundland, Canada In 1992 and 1993, following widespread failure in 1991 Reduced and delayed availability of capelin Mallotus villosus, plus elimination of previously plentiful fish offal and discards following an eastern Canadian groundfish moratorium in 1992, induced food-stress on kitt~wakes and on large predatory Larus gulls. Breeding was late, a low proportion of pairs laid eggs, and egg and clutch sizes were small, indicating that feeding condlt~ons for kittiwakes were poor early in the season. Extreme food-stress resulted in low b r e e d~n g success of Larns gulls that turned to kittiwake eggs as an alternate food source. Forced egg predation by great black-backed gulls Larus marinus was the primary cause of low hatching success (10 to 11 %) in both years. Durations of incubation and chick-rearing shifts decreased following the inshore arrival of capelin, and chicks that hatched after capelin arrival survived longer than earlier hatched chicks. Unattended nests were uncommon, probably in response to predation. In 1992, earlier hatching, later capelin arrival, and apparent lack of alternate prey resulted in many chicks starving and poor fledging success (7%). In 1993, food appeared to be more available both before and after capelin arrival, parents were able to provision chicks, and fledging success was normal (68%) The interactive effects of food shortage and predation have important linplications for the use of kittiwakes as indicator species and for the indirect effects of fishery activities on seabird interactions. Kittiwake productivity also reflects the resource base of t h e~r predators and caution is required when llnking kittiwake breeding success to prey abundance. Moreover, fishery activities, such as the eastern Canadian groundfish morator~um that eliminated fish discards and offal for large scavenging gulls, can have profound second-order effects on other seabird species that are preyed on by scavengers.

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Section: /-'---Lmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactive effects of food shortage and predation on breeding failure of black-legged kittiwakes:indirect effects of fisheries activities and implications for indicator species

Regehr¹,

Montevecchi²

1997

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

131

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“…However, the maximum recorded is 3 1 d (Douglas and Reimchen, 1988) (Table 4). Factors that contribute to a longer period of incubation in some species are the age and experience of the breeding pair (Ryder, 1980). Interrupted incubation due to human disturbance may also extend the incubation period (Pierce and Simons, 1986).…”

Section: Nesting Phenologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Breeding Biology of Red-throated Loons in the Canadian Beaufort Sea Region

Dickson¹

1993

ARCTIC

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ABSTRACT. The breeding biology of the red-throated loon in the Canadian Beaufort Sea region was investigated from 1985 to 1989. Five study plots were established with a total area of 276 k m 2 and over 200 pairs of loons on territory each breeding season. Loon densities ranged from 0.6 pairs*km-2 on the Yukon coast to 1.8 paiwkm-2 at Toker Point on the Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula. An average of 73% of the pairs on territory nested each year. Productivity averaged 0.63 youngmesting pair-'. The median date of egg laying ranged from 19 to 24 June in four years, but was 3 July in a year when spring thaw was late. The chicks fledged a mean of 47 d after hatch (n = lo), the first clutch chicks leaving the nesting pond in late August to mid-September.In all but one year, the mortality rate was higher for eggs than chicks, with egg losses peaking in the second half of incubation. Most (82%) chick losses occurred within three weeks of hatch (n = 61).Just 13% of the ponds were occupied in all five years of the study, while 39% were used in only one year. At two of the study plots, ponds with pairs that successfully reared at least one chick had a greater tendency to be occupied the following year than did ponds with unsuccessful pairs. At the other three plots, reuse of ponds was independent of breeding success the previous year.

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“…THE AGE OF THE PARENTS is an important tactor affecting the breeding biology of many bird species, especially non-passerines in which many do not start to breed until they are several years old (Lack 1968, Klomp 1970, Ashmole 1971, Ryder 1980. Clutch size and breeding success usually increase over the first few years of reproduction and then level off.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%