From a research study to a conservation partnership: Developing approaches to restoring common scoter populations
Abstract Like many sea‐duck populations, the British breeding population of common scoters Melanitta nigra has declined markedly. In 2009, a study was established to measure factors affecting lake use by breeding scoters, to inform conservation measures. That study, published in Aquatic Conservation...
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crwiley:10.1002/aqc.3414 2024-09-15T18:18:29+00:00 From a research study to a conservation partnership: Developing approaches to restoring common scoter populations Hancock, Mark H. Robson, Hannah J. Smith, Trevor D. Stephen, Alastair Byrne, Paul MacLennan, Alison Klein, Daniela Mitchell, Carl Griffin, Larry R. Hilton, Geoff Dobson, Henry Douse, Andy 2020 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3414 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/aqc.3414 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/aqc.3414 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems volume 30, issue 9, page 1770-1774 ISSN 1052-7613 1099-0755 journal-article 2020 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3414 2024-08-15T04:20:00Z Abstract Like many sea‐duck populations, the British breeding population of common scoters Melanitta nigra has declined markedly. In 2009, a study was established to measure factors affecting lake use by breeding scoters, to inform conservation measures. That study, published in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems (AQC) in 2016, showed that lakes used by scoters had relatively more shallow water and large invertebrates. Furthermore, lakes with abundant large invertebrates had relatively few brown trout Salmo trutta . These results probably reflect the importance of foraging habitat (shallow water), prey abundance (large invertebrates), and competition for prey (trout abundance) in influencing scoter lake use. To develop this study, additional research, and scoter conservation measures, we formed a long‐term partnership, comprising nature conservation non‐governmental organizations, statutory agencies, fisheries managers and the regional hydropower company. The partnership meets regularly to coordinate and review research and develop conservation measures, building on the earlier lake‐use study. At key scoter lakes managed for hydropower, the partnership negotiated a revised water level management regime, favouring shallow water availability in the breeding season. This regime was informed by additional research, showing the value of certain islands for nesting scoters, and water level requirements to maintain these as islands. In a different key scoter area — an extensive near‐natural peatland where recreational angling takes place — the partnership established a trial of increased brown trout angling, with increased fish removal, to determine whether this would increase invertebrate prey abundance and benefit breeding scoters. Both conservation interventions are currently being evaluated by detailed monitoring. Overall, the earlier study published in AQC, was important in strengthening and informing our researcher–practitioner partnership, as we collaborated within an adaptive management ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Melanitta nigra Wiley Online Library Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 30 9 1770 1774 |
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English |
description |
Abstract Like many sea‐duck populations, the British breeding population of common scoters Melanitta nigra has declined markedly. In 2009, a study was established to measure factors affecting lake use by breeding scoters, to inform conservation measures. That study, published in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems (AQC) in 2016, showed that lakes used by scoters had relatively more shallow water and large invertebrates. Furthermore, lakes with abundant large invertebrates had relatively few brown trout Salmo trutta . These results probably reflect the importance of foraging habitat (shallow water), prey abundance (large invertebrates), and competition for prey (trout abundance) in influencing scoter lake use. To develop this study, additional research, and scoter conservation measures, we formed a long‐term partnership, comprising nature conservation non‐governmental organizations, statutory agencies, fisheries managers and the regional hydropower company. The partnership meets regularly to coordinate and review research and develop conservation measures, building on the earlier lake‐use study. At key scoter lakes managed for hydropower, the partnership negotiated a revised water level management regime, favouring shallow water availability in the breeding season. This regime was informed by additional research, showing the value of certain islands for nesting scoters, and water level requirements to maintain these as islands. In a different key scoter area — an extensive near‐natural peatland where recreational angling takes place — the partnership established a trial of increased brown trout angling, with increased fish removal, to determine whether this would increase invertebrate prey abundance and benefit breeding scoters. Both conservation interventions are currently being evaluated by detailed monitoring. Overall, the earlier study published in AQC, was important in strengthening and informing our researcher–practitioner partnership, as we collaborated within an adaptive management ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Hancock, Mark H. Robson, Hannah J. Smith, Trevor D. Stephen, Alastair Byrne, Paul MacLennan, Alison Klein, Daniela Mitchell, Carl Griffin, Larry R. Hilton, Geoff Dobson, Henry Douse, Andy |
spellingShingle |
Hancock, Mark H. Robson, Hannah J. Smith, Trevor D. Stephen, Alastair Byrne, Paul MacLennan, Alison Klein, Daniela Mitchell, Carl Griffin, Larry R. Hilton, Geoff Dobson, Henry Douse, Andy From a research study to a conservation partnership: Developing approaches to restoring common scoter populations |
author_facet |
Hancock, Mark H. Robson, Hannah J. Smith, Trevor D. Stephen, Alastair Byrne, Paul MacLennan, Alison Klein, Daniela Mitchell, Carl Griffin, Larry R. Hilton, Geoff Dobson, Henry Douse, Andy |
author_sort |
Hancock, Mark H. |
title |
From a research study to a conservation partnership: Developing approaches to restoring common scoter populations |
title_short |
From a research study to a conservation partnership: Developing approaches to restoring common scoter populations |
title_full |
From a research study to a conservation partnership: Developing approaches to restoring common scoter populations |
title_fullStr |
From a research study to a conservation partnership: Developing approaches to restoring common scoter populations |
title_full_unstemmed |
From a research study to a conservation partnership: Developing approaches to restoring common scoter populations |
title_sort |
from a research study to a conservation partnership: developing approaches to restoring common scoter populations |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3414 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/aqc.3414 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/aqc.3414 |
genre |
Melanitta nigra |
genre_facet |
Melanitta nigra |
op_source |
Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems volume 30, issue 9, page 1770-1774 ISSN 1052-7613 1099-0755 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3414 |
container_title |
Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems |
container_volume |
30 |
container_issue |
9 |
container_start_page |
1770 |
op_container_end_page |
1774 |
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1810456603550285824 |