A colonial-nesting seabird shows limited heart rate responses to natural variation in threats of polar bears

Several predator–prey systems are in flux as an indirect result of climate change. In the Arctic, earlier sea-ice loss is driving polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) onto land when many colonial nesting seabirds are breeding. The result is a higher threat of nest predation for birds with potential limit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Royal Society Open Science
Main Authors: Geldart, Erica A., Love, Oliver P., Barnas, Andrew F., Harris, Christopher M., Gilchrist, H. Grant, Semeniuk, Christina A. D.
Other Authors: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Canada Research Chairs, Polar Knowledge Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Waterbird Society, Polar Continental Shelf Project, Wilson Ornithological Society, ArcticNet, Northern Scientific Training Program
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: The Royal Society 2023
Subjects:
Arctic
Climate change
Common Eider
Sea ice
Somateria mollissima
Ursus maritimus
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.221108
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.221108
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rsos.221108
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Summary:Several predator–prey systems are in flux as an indirect result of climate change. In the Arctic, earlier sea-ice loss is driving polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) onto land when many colonial nesting seabirds are breeding. The result is a higher threat of nest predation for birds with potential limited ability to respond. We quantified heart rate change in a large common eider ( Somateria mollissima ) breeding colony in the Canadian Arctic to explore their adaptive capacity to keep pace with the increasing risk of egg predation by polar bears. Eiders displayed on average higher heart rates from baseline when polar bears were within their field of view. Moreover, eiders were insensitive to variation in the distance bears were to their nests, but exhibited mild bradycardia (lowered heart rate) the longer the eider was exposed to the bear given the hen's visibility. Results indicate that a limited ability to assess the risks posed by polar bears may result in long-term fitness consequences for eiders from the increasing frequency in interactions with this predator.

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