Comparative Reproductive Strategies Between Long-tailed Ducks and King Eiders at Karrak Lake, Nunavut: use of energy reserves during the nesting season

Project Number: 42

Year Funded: 2005

Lead Institution(s): University of Saskatchewan

Project Lead: Shona Lawson

Email:

Collaborator(s): Ray Alisauskas (CWS), SDJV, CWS, NSTP, PCSP, USask

Location: Nunavut

Focal Species: Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis), King Eider (Somateria spectabilis)

Project Description: During the last four decades, populations of North American Long-tailed Ducks and King Eiders have been declining. Reasons for these declines are uncertain, but may be attributed to a number of factors on both wintering and breeding grounds. We are investigating life history strategies of Long-tailed Ducks and King Eiders on a shared breeding ground in the central Canadian Arctic, where long term research has been conducted on King Eiders and Long-tailed Ducks since 1995 and 1998 respectively. This project began in June 2004, at the Karrak Lake Research Station in the Queen Maud Gulf Bird Sanctuary, Nunavut Canada. We placed remote temperature sensors in nests to provide information about incubation constancy for both species. Stable isotope techniques were used to investigate the role, reliance and allocation of nutrient reserves in egg production of Long-tailed Ducks and King Eiders as well as wintering locations of Long-tailed Ducks breeding at this central Canadian arctic location (as has been done successfully for King Eiders at this area). Islands in the Karrak and Adventure Lake systems were searched for nests and nest checks were conducted every 7 – 10 days to determine nest fate, egg attrition and hatch date. Females were captured during mid to late incubation and were measured, banded, weighed and feathers of Long-tailed Ducks were collected.