Population Trends of Gulls and Arctic Terns Nesting in the Belcher Islands, Nunavut
ABSTRACT. Little information exists on the population trends of gulls and terns nesting in the Arctic. In 1997, we surveyed the number of glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus), herring gull (Larus argentatus), and arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) nests on the Belcher Islands (56˚00 ' –57˚30'N,...
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ftciteseerx:oai:CiteSeerX.psu:10.1.1.540.5786 2023-05-15T14:19:38+02:00 Population Trends of Gulls and Arctic Terns Nesting in the Belcher Islands, Nunavut H. Grant Gilchrist Gregory J. Robertson The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives 1999 application/pdf http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.540.5786 http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/arctic52-4-325.pdf en eng http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.540.5786 http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/arctic52-4-325.pdf Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/arctic52-4-325.pdf text 1999 ftciteseerx 2016-01-08T11:02:57Z ABSTRACT. Little information exists on the population trends of gulls and terns nesting in the Arctic. In 1997, we surveyed the number of glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus), herring gull (Larus argentatus), and arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) nests on the Belcher Islands (56˚00 ' –57˚30'N, 79˚30 ' – 80˚00'W). We compared our results with the mean number of nests per island counted in the Belcher Islands in the late 1980s using the same survey methods. The mean number of gull nests per island had declined in all five archipelagos surveyed, and the decline was significant in three regions. The number of arctic tern nests had also declined in all three regions where they were originally present, although this decline was significant in only one region. The causes of these apparent declines are unknown. Adult mortality or emigration of gulls from the area may have occurred in response to changes in polynya formation during recent winters, which restricted access to marine food sources. Reproductive success of gulls may also be low in response to the recent 75 % decline in common eiders nesting in the Belcher Islands. Eider eggs and ducklings are an important food source for gulls during the breeding season. The decline of nesting arctic terns may reflect either winter mortality of tern populations caused by unknown factors or emigration out of the Belcher Islands in response to regional egging and disturbance by local residents. Key words: arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea, Belcher Islands, glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus, herring gull, Larus argentatus, polynyas, population trends RÉSUMÉ. Il existe peu de renseignements sur les tendances dans les changements de population des mouettes et sternes qui Text Arctic Arctic Arctic tern Belcher Islands Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus Nunavut Sterna paradisaea Unknown Arctic Belcher ENVELOPE(-94.172,-94.172,57.936,57.936) Belcher Islands ENVELOPE(-79.250,-79.250,56.184,56.184) Nunavut |
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Open Polar |
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Unknown |
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ftciteseerx |
language |
English |
description |
ABSTRACT. Little information exists on the population trends of gulls and terns nesting in the Arctic. In 1997, we surveyed the number of glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus), herring gull (Larus argentatus), and arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) nests on the Belcher Islands (56˚00 ' –57˚30'N, 79˚30 ' – 80˚00'W). We compared our results with the mean number of nests per island counted in the Belcher Islands in the late 1980s using the same survey methods. The mean number of gull nests per island had declined in all five archipelagos surveyed, and the decline was significant in three regions. The number of arctic tern nests had also declined in all three regions where they were originally present, although this decline was significant in only one region. The causes of these apparent declines are unknown. Adult mortality or emigration of gulls from the area may have occurred in response to changes in polynya formation during recent winters, which restricted access to marine food sources. Reproductive success of gulls may also be low in response to the recent 75 % decline in common eiders nesting in the Belcher Islands. Eider eggs and ducklings are an important food source for gulls during the breeding season. The decline of nesting arctic terns may reflect either winter mortality of tern populations caused by unknown factors or emigration out of the Belcher Islands in response to regional egging and disturbance by local residents. Key words: arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea, Belcher Islands, glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus, herring gull, Larus argentatus, polynyas, population trends RÉSUMÉ. Il existe peu de renseignements sur les tendances dans les changements de population des mouettes et sternes qui |
author2 |
The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives |
format |
Text |
author |
H. Grant Gilchrist Gregory J. Robertson |
spellingShingle |
H. Grant Gilchrist Gregory J. Robertson Population Trends of Gulls and Arctic Terns Nesting in the Belcher Islands, Nunavut |
author_facet |
H. Grant Gilchrist Gregory J. Robertson |
author_sort |
H. Grant Gilchrist |
title |
Population Trends of Gulls and Arctic Terns Nesting in the Belcher Islands, Nunavut |
title_short |
Population Trends of Gulls and Arctic Terns Nesting in the Belcher Islands, Nunavut |
title_full |
Population Trends of Gulls and Arctic Terns Nesting in the Belcher Islands, Nunavut |
title_fullStr |
Population Trends of Gulls and Arctic Terns Nesting in the Belcher Islands, Nunavut |
title_full_unstemmed |
Population Trends of Gulls and Arctic Terns Nesting in the Belcher Islands, Nunavut |
title_sort |
population trends of gulls and arctic terns nesting in the belcher islands, nunavut |
publishDate |
1999 |
url |
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.540.5786 http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/arctic52-4-325.pdf |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-94.172,-94.172,57.936,57.936) ENVELOPE(-79.250,-79.250,56.184,56.184) |
geographic |
Arctic Belcher Belcher Islands Nunavut |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Belcher Belcher Islands Nunavut |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Arctic tern Belcher Islands Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus Nunavut Sterna paradisaea |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Arctic tern Belcher Islands Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus Nunavut Sterna paradisaea |
op_source |
http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/arctic52-4-325.pdf |
op_relation |
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.540.5786 http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/arctic52-4-325.pdf |
op_rights |
Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. |
_version_ |
1766291418980024320 |