The effects of loggers on the foraging effort and chick-rearing ability of parent little auks |
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Authors: | Dorota Kidawa Dariusz Jakubas Katarzyna Wojczulanis-Jakubas Lech Iliszko Lech Stempniewicz |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdańsk, al. Legion?w 9, 80-441 Gdańsk, Poland |
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Abstract: | We studied the effects of loggers attached to chick-rearing little auks (Alle alle) on their daily time budget (proportion of time spent in the colony and at sea), foraging activity (duration and proportion
of long and short foraging flights), chick provisioning rate and their growth and development on Spitsbergen. We found that
experimental parent birds performed shorter but more frequent long foraging flights and reduced the frequency of short foraging
flights. They spent more time at the colony and reduced chick provisioning rate compared to control birds. Nestlings reared
by experimental parents weighed significantly less at their middle, peak and fledging age and departed colony later than chicks
of control parents. Little auks depend on energy-rich copepods associated with cold Arctic waters and are expected to face
the climate-induced worsening of the foraging conditions, which may have negative impact on their time/energy budget and survival.
The study may help to determine the level of extra effort little auks need to invest to breed successfully. |
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