The reproductive behaviour and ecology of Sabine's gulls (Xema sabini) in the eastern Canadian Arctic
Life history theory focuses on how phenotypic traits interact to determine an organism's fitness, which is generally measured in terms of survival and reproduction. An animal's behaviour is a critical component in its ability to survive and reproduce, because natural selection promotes ind...
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Memorial University of Newfoundland
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ftmemorialuniv:oai:research.library.mun.ca:11473 2023-10-01T03:52:32+02:00 The reproductive behaviour and ecology of Sabine's gulls (Xema sabini) in the eastern Canadian Arctic Stenhouse, Iain J. 2003 application/pdf https://research.library.mun.ca/11473/ https://research.library.mun.ca/11473/1/Stenhouse_IanJames2.pdf en eng Memorial University of Newfoundland https://research.library.mun.ca/11473/1/Stenhouse_IanJames2.pdf Stenhouse, Iain J. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Stenhouse=3AIain_J=2E=3A=3A.html> (2003) The reproductive behaviour and ecology of Sabine's gulls (Xema sabini) in the eastern Canadian Arctic. Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland. thesis_license Thesis NonPeerReviewed 2003 ftmemorialuniv 2023-09-03T06:48:19Z Life history theory focuses on how phenotypic traits interact to determine an organism's fitness, which is generally measured in terms of survival and reproduction. An animal's behaviour is a critical component in its ability to survive and reproduce, because natural selection promotes individuals that are behaviourally efficient. -- Like many avian species breeding at high latitudes, the reproductive behavior and ecology of Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini) has been rarely studied. This species nests in coastal wetland tundra across the Arctic, and winters at cold-water upwelling zones in the Tropics and Subtropics. It is considered an atypical gull, both morphologically and behaviourally, and is recognized as phylogenetically distinct. -- At East Bay, Southampton Island, Nunavut, Sabine's Gulls nested on mossy edges of freshwater ponds, and were non-randomly distributed across the study area and within nesting habitat. Compared with other gulls, they exhibit several distinct ecological traits. They had relatively short incubation and fledging periods, and, within 24 hours of hatching, families relocated to post-hatching territories at the shoreline. These aspects of their reproductive ecology, which differ from other gulls, are likely adaptive traits that have evolved in response to specific characteristics of their Arctic breeding areas. -- Sabine's Gulls also exhibit a number of behavioural traits that are typical of gulls. Pairs showed strong site-tenacity and mate-fidelity from year to year. Throughout incubation and early brooding, males and females showed high reproductive investment. Overall, they shared parental duties equally, although there was considerable variation among pairs. Sabine's Gulls distinguished between threatening and non-threatening species close to their nests, and both members of a pair were aggressive towards predators. Although the relative intensity of response did not change over time, it did differ among predator types. Reproductive success was variable among years, and indirectly ... Thesis Arctic Arctic Nunavut Sabine's Gull Southampton Island Tundra Xema sabini Memorial University of Newfoundland: Research Repository Arctic Nunavut Southampton Island ENVELOPE(-84.501,-84.501,64.463,64.463) East Bay ENVELOPE(-36.426,-36.426,-54.288,-54.288) |
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Open Polar |
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Memorial University of Newfoundland: Research Repository |
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ftmemorialuniv |
language |
English |
description |
Life history theory focuses on how phenotypic traits interact to determine an organism's fitness, which is generally measured in terms of survival and reproduction. An animal's behaviour is a critical component in its ability to survive and reproduce, because natural selection promotes individuals that are behaviourally efficient. -- Like many avian species breeding at high latitudes, the reproductive behavior and ecology of Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini) has been rarely studied. This species nests in coastal wetland tundra across the Arctic, and winters at cold-water upwelling zones in the Tropics and Subtropics. It is considered an atypical gull, both morphologically and behaviourally, and is recognized as phylogenetically distinct. -- At East Bay, Southampton Island, Nunavut, Sabine's Gulls nested on mossy edges of freshwater ponds, and were non-randomly distributed across the study area and within nesting habitat. Compared with other gulls, they exhibit several distinct ecological traits. They had relatively short incubation and fledging periods, and, within 24 hours of hatching, families relocated to post-hatching territories at the shoreline. These aspects of their reproductive ecology, which differ from other gulls, are likely adaptive traits that have evolved in response to specific characteristics of their Arctic breeding areas. -- Sabine's Gulls also exhibit a number of behavioural traits that are typical of gulls. Pairs showed strong site-tenacity and mate-fidelity from year to year. Throughout incubation and early brooding, males and females showed high reproductive investment. Overall, they shared parental duties equally, although there was considerable variation among pairs. Sabine's Gulls distinguished between threatening and non-threatening species close to their nests, and both members of a pair were aggressive towards predators. Although the relative intensity of response did not change over time, it did differ among predator types. Reproductive success was variable among years, and indirectly ... |
format |
Thesis |
author |
Stenhouse, Iain J. |
spellingShingle |
Stenhouse, Iain J. The reproductive behaviour and ecology of Sabine's gulls (Xema sabini) in the eastern Canadian Arctic |
author_facet |
Stenhouse, Iain J. |
author_sort |
Stenhouse, Iain J. |
title |
The reproductive behaviour and ecology of Sabine's gulls (Xema sabini) in the eastern Canadian Arctic |
title_short |
The reproductive behaviour and ecology of Sabine's gulls (Xema sabini) in the eastern Canadian Arctic |
title_full |
The reproductive behaviour and ecology of Sabine's gulls (Xema sabini) in the eastern Canadian Arctic |
title_fullStr |
The reproductive behaviour and ecology of Sabine's gulls (Xema sabini) in the eastern Canadian Arctic |
title_full_unstemmed |
The reproductive behaviour and ecology of Sabine's gulls (Xema sabini) in the eastern Canadian Arctic |
title_sort |
reproductive behaviour and ecology of sabine's gulls (xema sabini) in the eastern canadian arctic |
publisher |
Memorial University of Newfoundland |
publishDate |
2003 |
url |
https://research.library.mun.ca/11473/ https://research.library.mun.ca/11473/1/Stenhouse_IanJames2.pdf |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-84.501,-84.501,64.463,64.463) ENVELOPE(-36.426,-36.426,-54.288,-54.288) |
geographic |
Arctic Nunavut Southampton Island East Bay |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Nunavut Southampton Island East Bay |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Nunavut Sabine's Gull Southampton Island Tundra Xema sabini |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Nunavut Sabine's Gull Southampton Island Tundra Xema sabini |
op_relation |
https://research.library.mun.ca/11473/1/Stenhouse_IanJames2.pdf Stenhouse, Iain J. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Stenhouse=3AIain_J=2E=3A=3A.html> (2003) The reproductive behaviour and ecology of Sabine's gulls (Xema sabini) in the eastern Canadian Arctic. Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland. |
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thesis_license |
_version_ |
1778518693558353920 |