Breeding Arctic Terns Kill Lemmings
Arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea) are well known for exhibiting vigorous defense of nests at their breeding colonies. However, in 2008 we observed a previously unreported behavior by terns. We watched chick-rearing adult terns attacking collared lemmings (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus), which included re...
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ftunivcalgaryojs:oai:journalhosting.ucalgary.ca:article/64553 2023-05-15T14:19:12+02:00 Breeding Arctic Terns Kill Lemmings Mallory, M.L. Boadway, K.A. Boadway, J.J.T. Akearok, J.A. 2010-09-01 application/pdf https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/64553 eng eng The Arctic Institute of North America https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/64553/48467 https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/64553 ARCTIC; Vol. 63 No. 3 (2010): September: 261–379; 359-361 1923-1245 0004-0843 arctic tern collared lemming Dicrostonyx groenlandicus Sterna paradisaea sterne arctique lemming à collerette info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion research-article 2010 ftunivcalgaryojs 2022-03-22T21:21:42Z Arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea) are well known for exhibiting vigorous defense of nests at their breeding colonies. However, in 2008 we observed a previously unreported behavior by terns. We watched chick-rearing adult terns attacking collared lemmings (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus), which included repeatedly lifting them into the air and dropping them to the tundra until they died. Terns attack certain birds and mammals that intrude on their breeding territory but do not attack other species that are known to depredate eggs, suggesting that the ability of terns to discriminate threats is imperfect. Les sternes arctiques (Sterna paradisaea) sont bien connues pour la défense rigoureuse des nids de leurs colonies de reproduction. Cependant, en 2008, nous avons observé un comportement chez les sternes qui n'avait jamais été signalé auparavant. Nous avons vu des sternes adultes en train d'élever leurs petits s'attaquer à des lemmings à collerette (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus), notamment en les soulevant sans cesse dans les airs et en les laissant tomber sur la toundra jusqu'à ce qu'ils meurent. Les sternes attaquent certains oiseaux et mammifères qui s'infiltrent dans leur territoire de reproduction, mais elles ne s'attaquent pas aux autres espèces qui s'adonnent à la déprédation d'oeufs, ce qui laisse croire que l'aptitude des sternes à discriminer les menaces est imparfaite. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Arctic Arctic tern Arctique* Dicrostonyx groenlandicus Sterna paradisaea Sterne arctique toundra Tundra University of Calgary Journal Hosting Arctic ARCTIC 63 3 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Calgary Journal Hosting |
op_collection_id |
ftunivcalgaryojs |
language |
English |
topic |
arctic tern collared lemming Dicrostonyx groenlandicus Sterna paradisaea sterne arctique lemming à collerette |
spellingShingle |
arctic tern collared lemming Dicrostonyx groenlandicus Sterna paradisaea sterne arctique lemming à collerette Mallory, M.L. Boadway, K.A. Boadway, J.J.T. Akearok, J.A. Breeding Arctic Terns Kill Lemmings |
topic_facet |
arctic tern collared lemming Dicrostonyx groenlandicus Sterna paradisaea sterne arctique lemming à collerette |
description |
Arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea) are well known for exhibiting vigorous defense of nests at their breeding colonies. However, in 2008 we observed a previously unreported behavior by terns. We watched chick-rearing adult terns attacking collared lemmings (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus), which included repeatedly lifting them into the air and dropping them to the tundra until they died. Terns attack certain birds and mammals that intrude on their breeding territory but do not attack other species that are known to depredate eggs, suggesting that the ability of terns to discriminate threats is imperfect. Les sternes arctiques (Sterna paradisaea) sont bien connues pour la défense rigoureuse des nids de leurs colonies de reproduction. Cependant, en 2008, nous avons observé un comportement chez les sternes qui n'avait jamais été signalé auparavant. Nous avons vu des sternes adultes en train d'élever leurs petits s'attaquer à des lemmings à collerette (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus), notamment en les soulevant sans cesse dans les airs et en les laissant tomber sur la toundra jusqu'à ce qu'ils meurent. Les sternes attaquent certains oiseaux et mammifères qui s'infiltrent dans leur territoire de reproduction, mais elles ne s'attaquent pas aux autres espèces qui s'adonnent à la déprédation d'oeufs, ce qui laisse croire que l'aptitude des sternes à discriminer les menaces est imparfaite. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Mallory, M.L. Boadway, K.A. Boadway, J.J.T. Akearok, J.A. |
author_facet |
Mallory, M.L. Boadway, K.A. Boadway, J.J.T. Akearok, J.A. |
author_sort |
Mallory, M.L. |
title |
Breeding Arctic Terns Kill Lemmings |
title_short |
Breeding Arctic Terns Kill Lemmings |
title_full |
Breeding Arctic Terns Kill Lemmings |
title_fullStr |
Breeding Arctic Terns Kill Lemmings |
title_full_unstemmed |
Breeding Arctic Terns Kill Lemmings |
title_sort |
breeding arctic terns kill lemmings |
publisher |
The Arctic Institute of North America |
publishDate |
2010 |
url |
https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/64553 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Arctic tern Arctique* Dicrostonyx groenlandicus Sterna paradisaea Sterne arctique toundra Tundra |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Arctic tern Arctique* Dicrostonyx groenlandicus Sterna paradisaea Sterne arctique toundra Tundra |
op_source |
ARCTIC; Vol. 63 No. 3 (2010): September: 261–379; 359-361 1923-1245 0004-0843 |
op_relation |
https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/64553/48467 https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/64553 |
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ARCTIC |
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63 |
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