Estimating breeding status in Atlantic puffin colonies across Newfoundland: a methodological comparison ...
The largest colonies of Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) have been experiencing decades of declining population growth linked to poor breeding performance, particularly in the Eastern Atlantic. These trends have been revealed by the presence of colony-specific monitoring programs. Such data are...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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Memorial University of Newfoundland
2023
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| Online Access: | https://dx.doi.org/10.48336/vzpm-ps22 https://research.library.mun.ca/16017/ |
| Summary: | The largest colonies of Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) have been experiencing decades of declining population growth linked to poor breeding performance, particularly in the Eastern Atlantic. These trends have been revealed by the presence of colony-specific monitoring programs. Such data are fragmented and not updated for Newfoundland (Canada) colonies, the largest in the Western Atlantic. Here, I have assessed the burrow laying success, fledging success, and productivity of five colonies at different latitudes in the 2021-2022 breeding season through the establishment of permanent plots. Direct comparisons between current and historical estimates were not possible due to differences in burrow assessment methods. As a remedy, I compared detection probabilities obtained by two different methods, burrowscoping and handgrubbing, and estimated a correction factor to allow for comparisons. Inter-rater reliability of the estimates was also evaluated. My findings show that estimates can be influenced by ... |
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