The scientific basis for new and sustainable management of migratory European ducks

Abstract

It is an axiom in ecology that knowing the sheer number of individuals in a population is of very little help if the objective is to understand future and past changes in population size. Yet, this is exactly how migratory European ducks are monitored, many of which are important quarry species in several countries. We argue that present monitoring is insufficient to address objectives of wise use and sustainability such as those emphasised in recent management directives and multilateral international agreements. The two main problems are the almost total lack of reliable data on recruitment and mortality. We advocate a pan-European monitoring system based on undisputed scientific principles; i.e. a long-term, coordinated and standardised scheme that produces data about vital rates of duck populations as well as about harvest size. Data from such a scheme can be used by game biologists to produce predictive tools, thus providing a functional basis for management decisions for adaptive harvesting and conservation alike.

Born to cope with climate change? Experimentally manipulated hatching time does not affect duckling survival in the mallard Anas platyrhynchos

“…Sustainable management of waterfowl populations is thus a challenging task even without global climate change (e.g. Elmberg et al 2006;Johnson et al 1997;Nichols et al 1995;Pöysä et al 2004). Consequently, in order to better understand and predict climate change impact on duck populations, more research is needed, preferably manipulative experiments addressing the flexibility of breeding ducks to respond to climatedriven changes in resource phenology.…”

Emigration rates and population turnover of teal Anas crecca in two major wetlands of western Europe

“…In both areas, this estimate was almost twice as large as the maximum instantaneous count number. This clearly demonstrates that the importance of a given area cannot simply be derived from instantaneous counts, especially if these are carried out only once a year in mid-January (Elmberg et al 2006). …”

“…Finally, according to Elmberg et al (2006) current monitoring schemes of natural populations of ducks in Europe (mostly based on counts) would be "insufficient to address objectives of wise use and sustainability. .…”

Understanding changes in bird populations – the role of bird marking

“…Overall, the approach is thought to have worked well and is likely to be extended to a range of other waterfowl species (Nichols et al 2007). Much waterfowl hunting also takes place in Europe, but pan-European monitoring of the vital rates of waterfowl is needed to support more effective harvest management (Elmberg et al 2006).…”