Exploring the migration and reproduction of common ringed plovers (Charadrius hiaticula) breeding in Iceland

• Main Author: Fletcher, James Alfred, 1997-
• Other Authors: Háskólinn á Akureyri
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: Háskólasetur Vestfjarða; Haf- og strandsvæðastjórnun; Meistaraprófsritgerðir; Farfuglar; Búsvæði; Vistkerfi; University centre of the Westfjords; Coastal and marine management; Migratory bird species; Coastal habitats; Ecosystems; Arctic; Haf; Charadrius hiaticula; Common Ringed Plover; Iceland; Ringed Plover
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1946/42994

Several migratory bird species rely upon coastal habitats throughout their annual cycle and connect several countries through their migration routes. Humans similarly make use of coastal areas due to their high productivity and resource levels, which has resulted in a level of exploitation that has in some cases damaged ecosystems irreparably. The Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula, is a long-distance migratory wader that undertakes a seasonal migration between its breeding grounds most commonly in the arctic and sub-arctic, and its wintering grounds in temperate and tropical latitudes, and like many wader species, it has experienced declines in population size across its range. With relatively little being known about the migration and variation in breeding success of Icelandic breeding Common Ringed Plovers, this study investigated (1) whether leap-frog migration is present within the Common Ringed Plover breeding in Iceland, (2) if carry-over effects occur during spring migration and affect breeding success, and (3) if timing of egg laying date vary between populations of Common Ringed Plover in the South and Westfjords of Iceland. By using data retrieved from geolocators fitted to individuals over a four-year period it was possible to estimate locations of winter sites and migration timings. While it has been observed in other Common Ringed Plover populations, a leap-frog migration pattern was not identified between the Icelandic breeding populations. Generalised linear models were used to identify relationships between several stages of spring migration and breeding success, with only the duration of time spent at stopovers found to be affected by the departure date from the wintering sites. Nevertheless, further research should be conducted into potential carry-over effects as more data may be required to explore this further. It was found that lay dates of first nesting attempts varied significantly between breeding sites and years of the study, with lay dates in the South being later in the ...