Low Abundance of King Eider Nests during Low Lemming Years in Northeast Greenland
Long-term surveys on Traill Island (Northeast Greenland) show that numbers of king eider (Somateria spectabilis) nests are correlated with high densities of collared lemming (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus). These observations match other zoological records from this region and agree with similar observa...
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2000
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ftunivcalgaryojs:oai:journalhosting.ucalgary.ca:article/63891 2023-05-15T13:19:53+02:00 Low Abundance of King Eider Nests during Low Lemming Years in Northeast Greenland Sittler, Benoît Gilg, Olivier Berg, Thomas B. 2000-01-01 application/pdf https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/63891 eng eng The Arctic Institute of North America https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/63891/47826 https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/63891 ARCTIC; Vol. 53 No. 1 (2000): March: 1–99; 53-60 1923-1245 0004-0843 arctic fox Alopex lagopus collared lemming Dicrostonyx groenlandicus Greenland king eider Somateria spectabilis population cycles predation info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion research-article 2000 ftunivcalgaryojs 2022-03-22T21:21:09Z Long-term surveys on Traill Island (Northeast Greenland) show that numbers of king eider (Somateria spectabilis) nests are correlated with high densities of collared lemming (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus). These observations match other zoological records from this region and agree with similar observations recorded elsewhere for arctic geese. Processes at work may be related to the fact that mammalian predators focus on lemmings when lemming numbers are high, but exert higher predation pressure on other prey at low lemming densities. Predators seem to increase their search effort during such low lemming years, thus increasing the likelihood that they will discover eider nests. This study highlights the importance of studying patterns at the community level in any attempt to interpret cyclic fluctuations in northern ecosystems. Une étude à long terme menée sur l'île de Traill (nord-est du Groenland) a mis en évidence que le nombre de nids d'eiders à tête grise (Somateria spectabilis) est corrélé à de fortes densités de lemming à collier (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus). Ces observations sont identiques à celles des autres relevés fauniques réalisés dans cette région et confortent des constats similaires sur le succès de reproduction des oies arctiques. Le déterminisme de ces phénomènes semble être lié au fait que les mammifères prédateurs se concentrent sur les lemmings lorsque ces derniers sont abondants, mais exercent une pression de prédation plus forte sur les autres espèces lorsque les lemmings se font plus rares. L'effort de recherche des prédateurs semble augmenter durant les années de creux, ce qui accroît la probabilité de découvrir les nids d'eiders. Cette étude souligne l'importance d'examiner les phénomènes dans l'ensemble de la communauté animale pour tenter d'expliquer les fluctuations cycliques dans les écosystèmes nordiques. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alopex lagopus Arctic Arctic Fox Arctic Arctique* Dicrostonyx groenlandicus Greenland Groenland King Eider Somateria spectabilis Traill Island University of Calgary Journal Hosting Arctic Collier ENVELOPE(-61.864,-61.864,-70.221,-70.221) Greenland ARCTIC 53 1 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Calgary Journal Hosting |
op_collection_id |
ftunivcalgaryojs |
language |
English |
topic |
arctic fox Alopex lagopus collared lemming Dicrostonyx groenlandicus Greenland king eider Somateria spectabilis population cycles predation |
spellingShingle |
arctic fox Alopex lagopus collared lemming Dicrostonyx groenlandicus Greenland king eider Somateria spectabilis population cycles predation Sittler, Benoît Gilg, Olivier Berg, Thomas B. Low Abundance of King Eider Nests during Low Lemming Years in Northeast Greenland |
topic_facet |
arctic fox Alopex lagopus collared lemming Dicrostonyx groenlandicus Greenland king eider Somateria spectabilis population cycles predation |
description |
Long-term surveys on Traill Island (Northeast Greenland) show that numbers of king eider (Somateria spectabilis) nests are correlated with high densities of collared lemming (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus). These observations match other zoological records from this region and agree with similar observations recorded elsewhere for arctic geese. Processes at work may be related to the fact that mammalian predators focus on lemmings when lemming numbers are high, but exert higher predation pressure on other prey at low lemming densities. Predators seem to increase their search effort during such low lemming years, thus increasing the likelihood that they will discover eider nests. This study highlights the importance of studying patterns at the community level in any attempt to interpret cyclic fluctuations in northern ecosystems. Une étude à long terme menée sur l'île de Traill (nord-est du Groenland) a mis en évidence que le nombre de nids d'eiders à tête grise (Somateria spectabilis) est corrélé à de fortes densités de lemming à collier (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus). Ces observations sont identiques à celles des autres relevés fauniques réalisés dans cette région et confortent des constats similaires sur le succès de reproduction des oies arctiques. Le déterminisme de ces phénomènes semble être lié au fait que les mammifères prédateurs se concentrent sur les lemmings lorsque ces derniers sont abondants, mais exercent une pression de prédation plus forte sur les autres espèces lorsque les lemmings se font plus rares. L'effort de recherche des prédateurs semble augmenter durant les années de creux, ce qui accroît la probabilité de découvrir les nids d'eiders. Cette étude souligne l'importance d'examiner les phénomènes dans l'ensemble de la communauté animale pour tenter d'expliquer les fluctuations cycliques dans les écosystèmes nordiques. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Sittler, Benoît Gilg, Olivier Berg, Thomas B. |
author_facet |
Sittler, Benoît Gilg, Olivier Berg, Thomas B. |
author_sort |
Sittler, Benoît |
title |
Low Abundance of King Eider Nests during Low Lemming Years in Northeast Greenland |
title_short |
Low Abundance of King Eider Nests during Low Lemming Years in Northeast Greenland |
title_full |
Low Abundance of King Eider Nests during Low Lemming Years in Northeast Greenland |
title_fullStr |
Low Abundance of King Eider Nests during Low Lemming Years in Northeast Greenland |
title_full_unstemmed |
Low Abundance of King Eider Nests during Low Lemming Years in Northeast Greenland |
title_sort |
low abundance of king eider nests during low lemming years in northeast greenland |
publisher |
The Arctic Institute of North America |
publishDate |
2000 |
url |
https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/63891 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-61.864,-61.864,-70.221,-70.221) |
geographic |
Arctic Collier Greenland |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Collier Greenland |
genre |
Alopex lagopus Arctic Arctic Fox Arctic Arctique* Dicrostonyx groenlandicus Greenland Groenland King Eider Somateria spectabilis Traill Island |
genre_facet |
Alopex lagopus Arctic Arctic Fox Arctic Arctique* Dicrostonyx groenlandicus Greenland Groenland King Eider Somateria spectabilis Traill Island |
op_source |
ARCTIC; Vol. 53 No. 1 (2000): March: 1–99; 53-60 1923-1245 0004-0843 |
op_relation |
https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/63891/47826 https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/63891 |
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ARCTIC |
container_volume |
53 |
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1 |
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1766350083735945216 |