Ecological and behavioural monitoring of American Common Eiders during the annual cycle
Project Number: 71
Year Funded: 2008
Lead Institution(s): University of Quebec
Project Lead: Magella Guillemette
Collaborator(s): SDJV, CWS, UQAR
Location: Quebec
Focal Species: Common Eider (Somateria mollissima)
Project Description: In this project, we applied a recent technique for the study of sea ducks that enables an investigator to monitor the behavior and energy expenditure of an individual during a full annual cycle. The American race of Common Eiders is facing increasing environmental pressure from harvesting of coastal resources, hunting, oil spills and soon, offshore wind parks. Our main goal is to link together the various biological phases (post-hatching, molting, pre-laying, etc.) of the annual cycle by understanding the relationships between habitat use, energy expenditure, food demand and migratory movements.
Our objectives are 1) to quantify the timing and duration of annual phases, 2) to quantify habitat use (depth), energy expenditure, time spent diving and body condition of post-reproductive females, 3) to use depth, daily diving and bottom time to estimate feeding efficiency and foraging effort throughout the annual cycle, 4) to estimate the duration of the pre-laying period based on the timing of spring migration and relate these (individual) estimates to energy expenditure, foraging behavior and laying date.
Our objectives are 1) to quantify the timing and duration of annual phases, 2) to quantify habitat use (depth), energy expenditure, time spent diving and body condition of post-reproductive females, 3) to use depth, daily diving and bottom time to estimate feeding efficiency and foraging effort throughout the annual cycle, 4) to estimate the duration of the pre-laying period based on the timing of spring migration and relate these (individual) estimates to energy expenditure, foraging behavior and laying date.
Project Reports: https://seaduckjv.org/pdf/studies/pr71.pdf