Cross-Seasonal Resource Use and Selenium Levels in Boreal Breeding White-winged Scoters

Project Number: 47

Year Funded: 2005

Lead Institution(s): University of Saskatchewan

Project Lead: Jean-Michel De Vink

Email:

Collaborator(s): Stuard Slattery (DUC), Bob Clark (CWS), Mark Wayland (CWS)

Location: Pacific Flyway

Focal Species: White-winged Scoter (Melanitta delgandi)

Project Description: Based on breeding waterfowl surveys, Lesser Scaup (LESC) and White-winged scoters (WWSC) have both declined throughout the northern boreal forest with highly correlated population trends. Given the similar population fluctuations, it is plausible both taxa share common causes of decline. One of the hypotheses proposed for the decline of LESC is that increasing contaminants, particularly Selenium (Se), are affecting breeding populations, and so we are evaluating aspects of Se dynamics in both species. Specifically, we are evaluating the hypothesis that females with high body burdens do not deposit Se into eggs due to their reliance on exogenous nutrients for egg production.