Wader populations at Zackenberg, high-arctic
populations and their breeding performance have taken place since 1996 in a 19.3 km2 census area as part of the BioBasis climate effects monitoring programme. Six species of waders breed in the area totalling an average of 260-300 pairs. In spite of notorious difficulties in monitoring tundra waders...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.555.6215 http://www.dof.dk/sider/images/stories/doft/dokumenter/doft_2006_1_2.pdf |
| Summary: | populations and their breeding performance have taken place since 1996 in a 19.3 km2 census area as part of the BioBasis climate effects monitoring programme. Six species of waders breed in the area totalling an average of 260-300 pairs. In spite of notorious difficulties in monitoring tundra waders in such a large area, the evaluation of the data indicates relatively limited interannual fluctuations between most years. Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula and Red Knot Calidris canutus have varied most, with up to a factor two between adjacent years, while Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres, Sanderling Calidris alba, Dunlin Calidris alpina and Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus have varied less. Only Common Ringed Plover showed a significantly decreasing trend over the study years, which is in accordance with declining numbers on the wintering grounds in West Africa. Waders breed-ing at Zackenberg appear largely to be site tenacious. There were few correlations with environmental conditions that could explain the observed variations in numbers. Especially interesting was a positive correlation between Red Knot and Ruddy Turnstone numbers and July temperatures two years previously, suggesting that chick survival influences population sizes two years later, when the young birds mature. |
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