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Smith RA, Fort J, Legagneux P, Chastel O, Mallory ML, Bustamante P, Danielsen J, Hanssen SA, Einar Jónsson J, Magnúsdóttir E, Moe B, Parenteau C, Parkinson KJL, Parsons GJ, Tertitski G, Love OP. Do foraging ecology and contaminants interactively predict parenting hormone levels in common eider? Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 337:114261. [PMID: 36907529 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Global climate change is causing abiotic shifts such as higher air and ocean temperatures, and disappearing sea ice in Arctic ecosystems. These changes influence Arctic-breeding seabird foraging ecology by altering prey availability and selection, affecting individual body condition, reproductive success, and exposure to contaminants such as mercury (Hg). The cumulative effects of alterations to foraging ecology and Hg exposure may interactively alter the secretion of key reproductive hormones such as prolactin (PRL), important for parental attachment to eggs and offspring and overall reproductive success. However, more research is needed to investigate the relationships between these potential links. Using data collected from 106 incubating female common eiders (Somateria mollissima) at six Arctic and sub-Arctic colonies, we examined whether the relationship between individual foraging ecology (assessed using δ13C, δ15N) and total Hg (THg) exposure predicted PRL levels. We found a significant, complex interaction between δ13C, δ15N and THg on PRL, suggesting that individuals cumulatively foraging at lower trophic levels, in phytoplankton-dominant environments, and with the highest THg levels had the most constant significant relationship PRL levels. Cumulatively, these three interactive variables resulted in lowered PRL. Overall, results demonstrate the potential downstream and cumulative implications of environmentally induced changes in foraging ecology, in combination with THg exposure, on hormones known to influence reproductive success in seabirds. These findings are notable in the context of continuing environmental and food web changes in Arctic systems, which may make seabird populations more susceptible to ongoing stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reyd A Smith
- University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada.
| | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Pierre Legagneux
- Université Laval, Département de Biologie and Centre d'Études Nordiques, Québec City, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada; Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Olivier Chastel
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Mark L Mallory
- Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 17000 La Rochelle, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes, 75005 Paris, France
| | | | - Sveinn A Hanssen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Sognsveien 68, N-0855 Oslo, Norway
| | - Jón Einar Jónsson
- University of Iceland's Research Centre at Snæfellsnes, Hafnargata 3, 340, Stykkishólmur, Iceland
| | - Ellen Magnúsdóttir
- University of Iceland's Research Centre at Snæfellsnes, Hafnargata 3, 340, Stykkishólmur, Iceland
| | - Børge Moe
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, PB 5685 Torgarden, N-7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Charline Parenteau
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | | | - Glen J Parsons
- Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 4E5, Canada
| | - Grigori Tertitski
- Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119017, Russian Federation
| | - Oliver P Love
- University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada
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Smith RA, Yurkowski DJ, Parkinson KJL, Fort J, Hennin HL, Gilchrist HG, Hobson KA, Mallory ML, Danielsen J, Garbus SE, Hanssen SA, Jónsson JE, Latty CJ, Magnúsdóttir E, Moe B, Parsons GJ, Sonne C, Tertitski G, Love OP. Environmental and life-history factors influence inter-colony multidimensional niche metrics of a breeding Arctic marine bird. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 796:148935. [PMID: 34274678 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Human industrialization has resulted in rapid climate change, leading to wide-scale environmental shifts. These shifts can modify food web dynamics by altering the abundance and distribution of primary producers (ice algae and phytoplankton), as well as animals at higher trophic levels. Methylmercury (MeHg) is a neuro-endocrine disrupting compound which biomagnifies in animals as a function of prey choice, and as such bioavailability is affected by altered food web dynamics and adds an important risk-based dimension in studies of foraging ecology. Multidimensional niche dynamics (MDND; δ13C, δ15N, THg; total mercury) were determined among breeding common eider (Somateria mollissima) ducks sampled from 10 breeding colonies distributed across the circumpolar Arctic and subarctic. Results showed high variation in MDND among colonies as indicated by niche size and ranges in δ13C, δ15N and THg values in relation to spatial differences in primary production inferred from sea-ice presence and colony migratory status. Colonies with higher sea-ice cover during the pre-incubation period had higher median colony THg, δ15N, and δ13C. Individuals at migratory colonies had relatively higher THg and δ15N, and lower δ13C, suggesting a higher trophic position and a greater reliance on phytoplankton-based prey. It was concluded that variation in MDND exists among eider colonies which influenced individual blood THg concentrations. Further exploration of spatial ecotoxicology and MDND at each individual site is important to examine the relationships between anthropogenic activities, foraging behaviour, and the related risks of contaminant exposure at even low, sub-lethal concentrations that may contribute to deleterious effects on population stability over time. Overall, multidimensional niche analysis that incorporates multiple isotopic and contaminant metrics could help identify those populations at risk to rapidly altered food web dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reyd A Smith
- University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada.
| | | | | | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle University, La Rochelle FR-17000, France
| | - Holly L Hennin
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K0A 1H0, Canada
| | - H Grant Gilchrist
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K0A 1H0, Canada
| | | | - Mark L Mallory
- cadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Jón Einar Jónsson
- University of Iceland's Research Centre at Snæfellsnes, Hafnargata 3, 340 Stykkishólmur, Iceland
| | - Christopher J Latty
- Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fairbanks, AK 99701, United States
| | - Ellen Magnúsdóttir
- University of Iceland's Research Centre at Snæfellsnes, Hafnargata 3, 340 Stykkishólmur, Iceland
| | - Børge Moe
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Tromsø N-9296, Norway
| | - Glen J Parsons
- Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forestry, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 4E5, Canada
| | | | - Grigori Tertitski
- Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119017, Russia
| | - Oliver P Love
- University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada
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Giroux J, Patenaude‐Monette M, Gilliland SG, Milton GR, Parsons GJ, Gloutney ML, Mehl KR, Allen RB, McAuley DG, Reed ET, McLellan NR. Estimating Population Growth and Recruitment Rates Across the Range of American Common Eiders. J Wildl Manage 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jean‐François Giroux
- Département des sciences biologiques Université du Québec à Montréal 141 Président Kennedy, P.O. Box 8888, Station Centre‐ville Montreal QC H3C 3P8 Canada
| | - Martin Patenaude‐Monette
- Département des sciences biologiques Université du Québec à Montréal 141 Président Kennedy, P.O. Box 8888, Station Centre‐ville Montreal QC H3C 3P8 Canada
| | - Scott G. Gilliland
- Canadian Wildlife Service Environment and Climate Change Canada 17 Waterfowl Lane, P.O. Box 6227 Sackville NB E4L 1G6 Canada
| | - G. Randy Milton
- Department of Lands and Forests 136 Exhibition Street Kentville NS B4N 4E5 Canada
| | - Glen J. Parsons
- Department of Lands and Forests 136 Exhibition Street Kentville NS B4N 4E5 Canada
| | - Mark L. Gloutney
- Ducks Unlimited Canada 350 Sparks Street Suite 706 Ottawa ON K1R 7S8 Canada
| | - Katherine R. Mehl
- Ducks Unlimited Canada 562 Water Street St. John's NL A13 2A2 Canada
| | - R. Bradford Allen
- Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 650 State Street Bangor ME 04401 USA
| | - Daniel G. McAuley
- USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center 69 Grove Street Extension Orono ME 04473 USA
| | - Eric T. Reed
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada 5019‐ 52nd Street Yellowknife NWT X1A 2P7 Canada
| | - Nic R. McLellan
- Ducks Unlimited Canada 64 Hwy 6, P. O. Box 430 Amherst NS B4H 3Z5 Canada
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Common Eider Wintering Trends in Nova Scotia, 1970–2019. JOURNAL OF FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.3996/jfwm-20-087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Common eiders Somateria mollissima have been a focus of conservation and management efforts in eastern North American for over a century; however, the complex population structure and multiple subspecies make assessing the status of populations challenging. The coastlines of Nova Scotia, Canada, are an important wintering area for common eiders, and significant harvests of common eiders occur in the province. We analyzed trends in the number of wintering common eiders using the coasts of Nova Scotia from dedicated waterfowl surveys flown since 1970, and every year since 1992. We used Generalized Additive Models to assess the apparent non-linear trends in the counts of common eiders over the past 50 y. We found that numbers of common eiders wintering in Nova Scotia increased from 1970 to the early 2010s, with strong growth in the 2000s (peaking at 7% growth/y). Since the early 2010s, the growth has stopped, and the numbers are now declining. Recent declines in the population wintering in Nova Scotia corroborate other evidence that common eiders are declining in the region, and may also indicate distributional shifts of common eiders in eastern North America.
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Safine DE, Lindberg MS, Martin KH, Talbot SL, Swem TR, Pearce JM, Stellrecht NC, Sage GK, Riddle AE, Fales K, Hollmén TE. Use of genetic mark-recapture to estimate breeding site fidelity and philopatry in a threatened sea duck population, Alaska-breeding Steller’s eiders. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2020. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The Steller’s eider Polysticta stelleri is a sea duck that breeds in Arctic tundra regions of Russia and Alaska (USA). The Alaska-breeding population is listed as ‘threatened’ under the US Endangered Species Act because of a perceived contraction of the breeding range in North America. Understanding demography of the listed population is critical for evaluating measures that can lead to increased abundance and thus, long-term viability. Specifically, estimates of return rates to breeding areas by adult females and natal areas by juvenile females are needed for planning effective recovery actions. We used a suite of polymorphic loci to genotype individuals and generated genetic profiles of nesting females and female offspring from nest materials collected between 1995 and 2016 in a ~170 km2 study area near Utqiagvik, Alaska. We analyzed capture histories of genetically identified individuals to estimate breeding site fidelity, temporary emigration, and philopatry. From a sample of 365 nests, we found that breeding site fidelity of adult females was high (0.91 ± 0.07 SE), and temporary emigration was also high (0.77 ± 0.06) and annually variable (range 0.34-0.97). From egg shell remains of 124 hatched females, we observed 9 recaptures as nesting adults, suggesting that philopatry was also high (range 0.6-1.0). Given the relatively high rates of adult female breeding site fidelity and female philopatry that we estimated, management actions that reduce mortality of adult females and increase annual productivity are likely to help maintain the population of a few hundred breeding Steller’s eiders on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska.
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Affiliation(s)
- DE Safine
- Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, AK 99503, USA
| | - MS Lindberg
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
| | - KH Martin
- Fairbanks Fish and Wildlife Field Office, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Fairbanks, AK 99701, USA
| | - SL Talbot
- Alaska Science Center, US Geological Survey, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
| | - TR Swem
- Fairbanks Fish and Wildlife Field Office, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Fairbanks, AK 99701, USA
| | - JM Pearce
- Alaska Science Center, US Geological Survey, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
| | - NC Stellrecht
- Fairbanks Fish and Wildlife Field Office, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Fairbanks, AK 99701, USA
| | - GK Sage
- Alaska Science Center, US Geological Survey, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
| | - AE Riddle
- Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward, AK 99664, USA
| | - K Fales
- Alaska Science Center, US Geological Survey, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
| | - TE Hollmén
- Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward, AK 99664, USA
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
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6
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Allen RB, McAuley DG, Zimmerman GS. Adult Survival of Common Eiders in Maine. Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2019. [DOI: 10.1656/045.026.0320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R. Bradford Allen
- Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 650 State Street, Bangor, ME 04401
| | - Daniel G. McAuley
- USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 17 Godfrey Drive, Suite 2, Orono, ME 04473
| | - Guthrie S. Zimmerman
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory Bird Management, 3020 State University Drive East, Modoc Hall, Suite 2007, Sacramento, CA 95819
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Ramula S, Öst M, Lindén A, Karell P, Kilpi M. Increased male bias in eider ducks can be explained by sex-specific survival of prime-age breeders. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0195415. [PMID: 29634733 PMCID: PMC5892891 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
In contrast to theoretical predictions of even adult sex ratios, males are dominating in many bird populations. Such bias among adults may be critical to population growth and viability. Nevertheless, demographic mechanisms for biased adult sex ratios are still poorly understood. Here, we examined potential demographic mechanisms for the recent dramatic shift from a slight female bias among adult eider ducks (Somateria mollissima) to a male bias (about 65% males) in the Baltic Sea, where the species is currently declining. We analysed a nine-year dataset on offspring sex ratio at hatching based on molecularly sexed ducklings of individually known mothers. Moreover, using demographic data from long-term individual-based capture-recapture records, we investigated how sex-specific survival at different ages after fledgling can modify the adult sex ratio. More specifically, we constructed a stochastic two-sex matrix population model and simulated scenarios of different survival probabilities for males and females. We found that sex ratio at hatching was slightly female-biased (52.8%) and therefore unlikely to explain the observed male bias among adult birds. Our stochastic simulations with higher survival for males than for females revealed that despite a slight female bias at hatching, study populations shifted to a male-biased adult sex ratio (> 60% males) in a few decades. This shift was driven by prime reproductive-age individuals (≥5-year-old), with sex-specific survival of younger age classes playing a minor role. Hence, different age classes contributed disproportionally to population dynamics. We argue that an alternative explanation for the observed male dominance among adults–sex-biased dispersal–can be considered redundant and is unlikely, given the ecology of the species. The present study highlights the importance of considering population structure and age-specific vital rates when assessing population dynamics and management targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satu Ramula
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Markus Öst
- Bioeconomy Research Team, Novia University of Applied Sciences, Ekenäs, Finland.,Environmental and Marine Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Andreas Lindén
- Bioeconomy Research Team, Novia University of Applied Sciences, Ekenäs, Finland
| | - Patrik Karell
- Bioeconomy Research Team, Novia University of Applied Sciences, Ekenäs, Finland
| | - Mikael Kilpi
- Bioeconomy Research Team, Novia University of Applied Sciences, Ekenäs, Finland
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