scholarly journals Boat disturbance effects on moulting common eiders Somateria mollissima

2019 ◽  
Vol 167 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Dehnhard ◽  
Jørgen Skei ◽  
Signe Christensen-Dalsgaard ◽  
Roel May ◽  
Duncan Halley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Somateria Mollissima ◽  
Flock Size ◽  
Foraging Habitat ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Resting Behaviour ◽  
Disturbance Effects ◽  
Common Eiders ◽  
Boat Traffic ◽  
Flight Initiation

AbstractShip and boat traffic are increasing sources of disturbance to marine wildlife. During moult, sea ducks are flightless and rely on productive and shallow feeding areas. However, this period coincides with the peak of the recreational boating season. This is the first study to investigate the escape behaviour of moulting common eiders (Somateria mollissima) to the approach of small boats. We quantified flight initiation distances (flock-to-boat distance at which an energy-demanding escape occurred), displacement distances (distance between the pre- and post-disturbance position of the flock) and the time it took flocks to return to pre-disturbance (foraging- or resting-) behaviour. Moulting common eiders showed average flight initiation distances of 177 m and displacement distances of 771 m. Displacement distances decreased with flock size, under higher wind speeds and when previous foraging habitat was shallower. Time-to-return to pre-disturbance behaviour decreased with flock size but increased with wind speed and accessibility of foraging habitat at the previous location. Most (75%) of flocks returned to pre-disturbance behaviour within 10 min after the disturbance, while three flocks kept disturbed even 45 min after the approach. Finally, flocks encountered less accessible (deeper) habitats after disturbance than before. Our results suggest that approaching boats imply considerable disturbance effects for moulting common eiders through increased locomotion costs, displacement from accessible foraging habitat and/or time lost for foraging or resting. We provide valuable information for policy makers and marine spatial planning and highlight the need for awareness among recreational boat drivers on their impact on wildlife.

scholarly journals Herd immunity drives the epidemic fadeout of avian cholera in Arctic-nesting seabirds

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacintha G. B. van Dijk ◽  
Samuel A. Iverson ◽  
H. Grant Gilchrist ◽  
N. Jane Harms ◽  
Holly L. Hennin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colony Size ◽  
Pasteurella Multocida ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Reproductive Number ◽  
Somateria Mollissima ◽  
Common Eiders ◽  
Serological Status ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
Avian Cholera

AbstractAvian cholera, caused by the bacterium Pasteurella multocida, is a common and important infectious disease of wild birds in North America. Between 2005 and 2012, avian cholera caused annual mortality of widely varying magnitudes in Northern common eiders (Somateria mollissima borealis) breeding at the largest colony in the Canadian Arctic, Mitivik Island, Nunavut. Although herd immunity, in which a large proportion of the population acquires immunity to the disease, has been suggested to play a role in epidemic fadeout, immunological studies exploring this hypothesis have been missing. We investigated the role of three potential drivers of fadeout of avian cholera in eiders, including immunity, prevalence of infection, and colony size. Each potential driver was examined in relation to the annual real-time reproductive number (Rt) of P. multocida, previously calculated for eiders at Mitivik Island. Each year, colony size was estimated and eiders were closely monitored, and evaluated for infection and serological status. We demonstrate that acquired immunity approximated using antibody titers to P. multocida in both sexes was likely a key driver for the epidemic fadeout. This study exemplifies the importance of herd immunity in influencing the dynamics and fadeout of epidemics in a wildlife population.

Body and organ mass dynamics during remigial moult in a wing–foot-propelled diving sea duck: the Common Eider (Atlantic) (Somateria mollissima dresseri)

2015 ◽  
Vol 93 (10) ◽  
pp. 755-764 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Viain ◽  
M. Guillemette ◽  
J.-P.L. Savard
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Flight Muscle ◽  
Somateria Mollissima ◽  
Dabbling Ducks ◽  
Diving Ducks ◽  
Common Eiders ◽  
Sea Duck ◽  
Remigial Moult ◽  
Atrophy Of The Heart

Body and organ dynamics, during remigial moult, have been mainly explored on geese, dabbling ducks, and foot-propelled diving ducks, but weakly on sea ducks. This study investigated the internal changes in a wing–foot-propelled sea duck to determine the adaptive strategies implemented. Forty-five male Common Eiders (Atlantic) (Somateria mollissima dresseri Sharpe, 1871), collected in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, were dissected; their body mass, muscle mass, and organ sizes were measured. We tested three hypotheses: (1) S. m. dresseri use a strategic reduction of body mass to reduce the flightlessness duration; (2) organs will exhibit changes consistent with a trade-off between function and maintenance to save and reallocate energy and proteins to feather growth; (3) S. m. dresseri would show lower flight muscle reduction than foot-propelled diving ducks. Somateria mollissima dresseri did not lose body mass, which does not support the first hypothesis. Atrophy of the heart followed by hypertrophy and opposite changes in leg muscle mass and gizzard mass are consistent with the second hypothesis. Flight muscle mass showed lower variations than in other ducks, validating the third hypothesis. We also suggest that the lipid depletion observed early in the moult could be a strategy to reduce foraging effort and minimize the risk of damaging the growing feathers.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of avian influenza in Baltic common eiders (Somateria mollissima) and pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus)

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 ◽  
pp. 105873 ◽  
Author(s):  
Su Shiung Lam ◽  
Rune Skjold Tjørnløv ◽  
Ole Roland Therkildsen ◽  
Thomas Kjær Christensen ◽  
Jesper Madsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Somateria Mollissima ◽  
Anser Brachyrhynchus ◽  
Common Eiders

Common Eider (Somateria Mollissima) Body Condition and Parasitic Load during a Mortality Event in the Baltic Proper

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svend-Erik Garbus ◽  
Peter Lyngs ◽  
Jens Peter Christensen ◽  
Kurt Buchmann ◽  
Igor Eulaers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
High Mortality ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Somateria Mollissima ◽  
Common Eiders ◽  
Baltic Proper ◽  
Average Body Mass ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Average Body

During late spring of 2007 and 2015, we observed unusually high mortality of Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima) on Christiansø in the Baltic Proper. The number of dead birds (2007: 125; 2015: 110) composed 5–10% of the total colony. In 2015, we collected 15 (12 adult females, three subadult males) of the 110 recently deceased Common Eiders for detailed autopsy. The average body mass of the females was 1,040 g (920–1,160 g) which is ca 60% lower than what can be expected of healthy females during wintertime. Similarly, for the subadult males the average body mass of 1,203 g (1,070–1,300 g) comprised only 45% of what can be expected for healthy subadult males during winter. All 15 birds were thus severely emaciated and cachexic with general atrophy of muscles and internal organs. Hunger oedema, distended gall bladder, empty stomach, empty and dilated intestines and dilated cardiomyopathy were observed as well. In addition, all 15 Common Eiders were infected with high loads of the acanthocephalan parasite Polymorphus minutus. No gross morphological changes suggested toxicological, bacteriological or viral causes to the mortality. Taken together, our autopsy suggested starvation leading to secondary metabolic catabolism and eventually congestive heart failure. Five birds that were examined in 2007 showed the same symptoms. We suspect that the introduction of suboptimal feeding conditions in combination with a high parasite load over the last decade synergistically caused high physiological stress leading to population level effects manifested as high mortality.

scholarly journals Body mass, mercury exposure, biochemistry and untargeted metabolomics of incubating common eiders (Somateria mollissima) in three Baltic colonies

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 ◽  
pp. 105866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nyuk Ling Ma ◽  
Martin Hansen ◽  
Ole Roland Therkildsen ◽  
Thomas Kjær Christensen ◽  
Rune Skjold Tjørnløv ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Mercury Exposure ◽  
Untargeted Metabolomics ◽  
Somateria Mollissima ◽  
Common Eiders

Annual variation in common eider egg size: effects of temperature, clutch size, laying date, and laying sequence

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (9) ◽  
pp. 1579-1587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory J. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Egg Size ◽  
Annual Variation ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Laying Date ◽  
Somateria Mollissima ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Common Eiders ◽  
N 93

Annual variation in volumes of eggs laid by common eiders (Somateria mollissima sedentaria) nesting at La Pérouse Bay, Manitoba (58°43′N, 93°27′W), was studied over 3 years (1991–1993). Temperatures during the egg-laying period were higher in 1991 than in 1992 and 1993. However, the eiders began nesting in 1993 at the same time as in 1991, whereas in 1992 the eiders began laying approximately 2 weeks later. Eiders laid significantly smaller clutches in 1992 than in the other 2 years. Egg size did not correlate with clutch size or laying date in any year. However, eiders laid smaller eggs in 1992 and 1993 than in 1991. In five egg clutches, the pattern of intraclutch egg-size variation was different among years. The last laid eggs of five egg clutches were disproportionately smaller in 1992 and 1993 (cold years) than those laid in 1991. Minimum daily temperatures before the egg-laying period (during rapid yolk development) were positively correlated with egg size. However, this effect was not significant when year and egg sequence were controlled for. Egg-size variation was correlated with the overall ambient temperatures during the laying period, whereas annual clutch-size variation was correlated with laying date, suggesting that the proximate mechanisms affecting clutch and egg size are different.

Effects of Dietary Selenium on Tissue Concentrations, Pathology, Oxidative Stress, and Immune Function in Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima)

2007 ◽  
Vol 70 (10) ◽  
pp. 861-874 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Christian Franson ◽  
David J. Hoffman ◽  
Alicia Wells-Berlin ◽  
Matthew C. Perry ◽  
Valerie Shearn-Bochsler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Immune Function ◽  
Somateria Mollissima ◽  
Tissue Concentrations ◽  
Dietary Selenium ◽  
Common Eiders

scholarly journals AN ADENOVIRUS ASSOCIATED WITH INTESTINAL IMPACTION AND MORTALITY OF MALE COMMON EIDERS (SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA) IN THE BALTIC SEA

2003 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuula E. Hollmén ◽  
J. Christian Franson ◽  
Mikael Kilpi ◽  
Douglas E. Docherty ◽  
Vesa Myllys
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Somateria Mollissima ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Common Eiders ◽  
The Baltic

Factors affecting abandonment and adoption of young in common eiders and other waterfowl: a comment

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (8) ◽  
pp. 1575-1577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannu Pöysä
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Final Decision ◽  
Somateria Mollissima ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Lower Survival Rate ◽  
Investment Theory ◽  
Common Eiders ◽  
Parental Investment Theory ◽  
Brood Success ◽  
Care Period

Factors affecting abandonment and adoption of young have been studied extensively in waterfowl. Several hypotheses have been advanced to account for these behaviours, and Bustnes and Erikstad (J.O. Bustnes and K.E. Erikstad. 1991. Can. J. Zool. 69: 1538–1545) recently evaluated these in common eiders (Somateria mollissima). They found, among other things, that young of "abandoners" had a lower survival rate than young of "tenders," but were not able to accurately time the mortality of ducklings. I propose a hypothesis based on brood success and parental investment theory to explain why some parents abandon their young exceptionally early and why some parents tend their own as well as foreign young. According to the hypothesis, parents provide relatively less care for offspring that are surviving less than average during the parental care period. The low survival of the young of abandoners while they are still with their own mother may have influenced the final decision of common eider females to abandon their broods early.

ESTABLISHING A BREEDING EIDER DUCK POPULATION IN MASSACHUSETTS

1989 ◽  
Vol 1989 (1) ◽  
pp. 493-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip B. Stanton
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spills ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Release Site ◽  
Breeding Population ◽  
Somateria Mollissima ◽  
Breeding Ground ◽  
Breeding Range ◽  
Common Eiders ◽  
Management Techniques ◽  
Natural Foods

ABSTRACT In an effort to make a waterfowl population with a limited breeding range—Maine to the Canadian Maritimes—less vulnerable to local catastrophe from petroleum activities, a population of common eiders (Somateria mollissima dressesi) was transplanted from Maine to Massachusetts. The objective of the relocation of the eiders was to see if a population of seabirds could successfully be moved from an area subject to petroleum activities to a new breeding ground. This move involved taking a group of birds from its existing breeding ground to a nonbreeding territory and establishing another breeding population. Such wildlife management techniques could contribute to increasing the reproductive potential of birds lost to oil spills, thus decreasing the need for high-cost oiled bird rehabilitation, which is often ecologically unsound. From 1973 to 1975, adult eiders and eggs were collected from Casco Bay, Maine. Eggs were hatched and hand-reared for several weeks both at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and on Penikese Island in Massachusetts. The birds were released on Penikese in Buzzard's Bay, about 240 kilometers (150 miles) south of their known breeding range, but in an area of habitat similar to that of the islands of Casco Bay. An acclimation program included rearing the birds at the release site for one to three weeks and introducing a saltwater environment and natural foods to the birds. The released eiders began breeding in 1976 on Penikese and have since colonized at least three nearby islands. By 1988 the population had increased to an estimated 200 breeding pairs.

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