Nest-Site Selection, Interspecific Associations, and Nest Success of King Eiders

Abstract We investigated factors influencing nest success in King Eiders (Somateria spectabilis) at Karrak Lake, Nunavut, Canada, during 1995–2001. Island-nesting King Eiders had higher nest success (range 30–89%) than that reported for mainland-nesting populations, and nested at much higher densiti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Condor
Main Authors: Kellett, Dana K., Alisauskas, Ray T., Mehl, Katherine R.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Oxford University Press (OUP) 2003
Subjects:
Animal Science and Zoology
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Arctic
Nunavut
Canada
Pequeñas
Karrak Lake
King Eider
Somateria spectabilis
Sterna paradisaea
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/condor/105.2.373
http://academic.oup.com/condor/article-pdf/105/2/373/29712444/condor0373.pdf
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Summary:Abstract We investigated factors influencing nest success in King Eiders (Somateria spectabilis) at Karrak Lake, Nunavut, Canada, during 1995–2001. Island-nesting King Eiders had higher nest success (range 30–89%) than that reported for mainland-nesting populations, and nested at much higher densities (46–198 nests km−2) than on mainland, where they were detected infrequently (usually <1 nest km−2). Predation was the main cause of nest failure, and King Eider nest success was greater on isolated islands (smaller islands, and larger islands farther from the mainland) that were presumably less accessible to mammalian predators. King Eiders did not derive protection from predators by nesting near gulls (Larus spp.) and Arctic Terns (Sterna paradisaea). Selección del Sitio de Nidificación, Asociaciones Interespecíficas y Éxito de Nidificación de Somateria spectabilis Resumen. Investigamos los factores que influencian el éxito de nidificación de Somateria spectabilis en Karrak Lake, Nunavut, Canada, durante 1995–2001. Los individuos que nidifican en las islas presentaron un mayor éxito de nidificación (entre 30–89%) que el reportado para las poblaciones que nidifican en el continente, y anidaron a una mayor densidad que en el continente, donde se detectaron infrecuentemente (usualmente <1 nido km−2). La depredación fue la principal causa de fracaso, y el éxito de nidificación de S. spectabilis fue mayor en islas grandes y pequeñas más alejadas del continente, las que presumiblemente se encontraban menos accesibles a mamíferos depredadores. Somateria spectabilis no obtuvo protección contra depredadores al nidificar cerca de gaviotas (Larus spp.) y gaviotines Sterna paradisaea.

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