Age-Specific Survival of Tundra Swans on the Lower Alaska Peninsula

• Published in: The Condor
• Main Authors: Meixell, Brandt W., Lindberg, Mark S., Conn, Paul B., Dau, Christian P., Sarvis, John E., Sowl, Kristine M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press (OUP) 2013
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Cygnus columbianus; Tundra; Alaska
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/cond.2013.110213; http://academic.oup.com/condor/article-pdf/115/2/280/29161690/condor0280.pdf

Abstract. The population of Tundra Swans (Cygnus columbianus columbianus) breeding on the lower Alaska Peninsula represents the southern extremity of the species' range and is uniquely nonmigratory. We used data on recaptures, resightings, and recoveries of neck-collared Tundra Swans on the lower Alaska Peninsula to estimate collar loss, annual apparent survival, and other demographic parameters for the years 1978– 1989. Annual collar loss was greater for adult males fitted with either the thinner collar type (0.34) or the thicker collar type (0.15) than for other age/sex classes (thinner: 0.10, thicker: 0.04). The apparent mean probability of survival of adults (0.61) was higher than that of immatures (0.41) and for both age classes varied considerably by year (adult range: 0.44–0.95, immature range: 0.25–0.90). To assess effects of permanent emigration by age and breeding class, we analyzed post hoc the encounter histories of swans known to breed in our study area. The apparent mean survival of known breeders (0.65) was generally higher than that of the entire marked sample but still varied considerably by year (range 0.26–1.00) and indicated that permanent emigration of breeding swans was likely. We suggest that reductions in apparent survival probability were influenced primarily by high and variable rates of permanent emigration and that immigration by swans from elsewhere may be important in sustaining a breeding population at and near Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.