Heavy decline of the largest European Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus colony: interacting effects of food shortage and predation. Issue 1 (2nd January 2021)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Heavy decline of the largest European Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus colony: interacting effects of food shortage and predation. Issue 1 (2nd January 2021)
- Main Title:
- Heavy decline of the largest European Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus colony: interacting effects of food shortage and predation
- Authors:
- van Bemmelen, Rob S.A.
Schekkerman, Hans
Hin, Vincent
Pot, Morrison T.
Janssen, Kirstin
Ganter, Barbara
Rösner, Hans-Ulrich
Tulp, Ingrid - Abstract:
- ABSTRACT: Capsule: The number of breeding pairs of Europe's largest Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus colony at Slettnes, Norway, showed a dramatic decline of at least 50% over two decades, with food shortage in four years and increasing predation by Red Fox Vulpes vulpes leading to total breeding failure in five out of six recent study years. Aims: To document the decline of Europe's largest Arctic Skua colony and quantify bottom-up and top-down effects on reproduction. Methods: We compared nest counts between 1997–1998 and 2014–2019 and collected data on egg size, clutch size and nest success for all years, and adult body mass, nest attendance, at-sea activity, aggressive nest defence, Red Fox Vulpes vulpes encounters, daily nest survival and adult survival for 2014–2019. We deployed nest cameras to identify predators in 2018–2019. In addition, we developed a demographic model to estimate the fecundity required for a stable population. Results: A higher proportion of time spent at sea, small eggs, low adult female body mass and indirect assessment of foraging fish availability suggested food shortages in four of six recent study years. At the same time, nest predation by Red Foxes, the likely predator involved, increased during the six-year study. The combined effects of food shortage and nest predation led to total breeding failures in 2017–2019. Conclusion: We provide evidence of both bottom-up (food shortage) and top-down (predation) effects on reproductiveABSTRACT: Capsule: The number of breeding pairs of Europe's largest Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus colony at Slettnes, Norway, showed a dramatic decline of at least 50% over two decades, with food shortage in four years and increasing predation by Red Fox Vulpes vulpes leading to total breeding failure in five out of six recent study years. Aims: To document the decline of Europe's largest Arctic Skua colony and quantify bottom-up and top-down effects on reproduction. Methods: We compared nest counts between 1997–1998 and 2014–2019 and collected data on egg size, clutch size and nest success for all years, and adult body mass, nest attendance, at-sea activity, aggressive nest defence, Red Fox Vulpes vulpes encounters, daily nest survival and adult survival for 2014–2019. We deployed nest cameras to identify predators in 2018–2019. In addition, we developed a demographic model to estimate the fecundity required for a stable population. Results: A higher proportion of time spent at sea, small eggs, low adult female body mass and indirect assessment of foraging fish availability suggested food shortages in four of six recent study years. At the same time, nest predation by Red Foxes, the likely predator involved, increased during the six-year study. The combined effects of food shortage and nest predation led to total breeding failures in 2017–2019. Conclusion: We provide evidence of both bottom-up (food shortage) and top-down (predation) effects on reproductive investment and hatching success in this colony. The reproductive output in recent years is far too low to sustain a stable population. The severe decline of the Arctic Skua colony at Slettnes fits reported trends for this species across most of its European breeding range, as well as for its important host species, the Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea and the Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla . … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Bird study. Volume 68:Issue 1(2021)
- Journal:
- Bird study
- Issue:
- Volume 68:Issue 1(2021)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 68, Issue 1 (2021)
- Year:
- 2021
- Volume:
- 68
- Issue:
- 1
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2021-0068-0001-0000
- Page Start:
- 88
- Page End:
- 99
- Publication Date:
- 2021-01-02
- Subjects:
- Stercorarius parasiticus -- Arctic Skua -- Red Fox -- colony -- bottom-up -- top-down
Birds -- Ecology -- Great Britain -- Periodicals
Birds -- Conservation -- Great Britain -- Periodicals
Birds -- Ecology -- Periodicals
Birds -- Conservation -- Periodicals
Birds -- Great Britain -- Periodicals
Birds -- Geographical distribution -- Periodicals
Birds -- Counting -- Periodicals
598.170941 - Journal URLs:
- http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tbis20#.UrShPk2IqmQ ↗
http://www.ingenta.com/journals/browse/bto/bird ↗
http://www.tandfonline.com/ ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1080/00063657.2021.1969334 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 0006-3657
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 19368.xml