Evaluating Effects of the Shellfish Industry on Scoter Populations in Coastal British Columbia

Project Number: 15

Year Funded: 2005

Lead Institution(s): Simon Fraser University

Project Lead: Dan Esler

Email:

Collaborator(s): Sean Boyd (CWS), USFWS, USGS, NOSF, NSERC

Location: British Columbia

Focal Species: Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata), White-winged Scoter (Melanitta delgandi)

Project Description: Coastal British Columbia supports important concentrations of surf scoters and white-winged scoters. The habitats used by scoters also support shellfish aquaculture, an industry that has the potential to expand dramatically. This project investigated the interactions between scoter populations and the shellfish industry, with the intent of evaluating potential effects, either detrimental or beneficial, of shellfish aquaculture on scoter population sustainability, at local and regional scales and short- and long-term time frames. The research was designed to use several approaches at three coastal sites (Baynes, Barkley, and Desolation Sounds) to: (1) answer questions about basic scoter biology that will indicate potential mechanisms by which shellfish aquaculture (or other activities) could have population-level effects, (2) directly evaluate relationships of shellfish aquaculture to behaviour, survival, and habitat quality, (3) provide information necessary to set appropriate management goals for scoters, and (4) provide implications for management of shellfish aquaculture optimizing long-term sustainability of both the industry and scoter populations. Specific research directions include: (1) documenting scoter abundance and distribution in relation to habitat attributes, proximity to shellfish aquaculture, and seasonal and annual variation, based on intensive surveys and habitat sampling; (2) describing movements and foraging behaviour of radio-marked individuals; (3) quantification of survival rates of radio-marked birds; (4) evaluation of various radio-marking packages on scoters; and (5) describing scoter trophic interactions with their primary prey.

Project Reports:

SDJV15 Interim Report FY02
SDJV15 Interim Report FY03
SDJV15 Interim Report FY04
SDJV15 Final Report FY05

Related Publications

Anderson. E.M., D. Esler, W.S. Boyd, J.R. Evenson, D.R. Nysewander, D.H. Ward, R.D. Dickson, B.D. Uher-Koch, C.S. VanStratt, and J.W. Hupp. 2012. Predation rates, timing, and predator composition for scoters in marine habitats. Canadian Journal of Zoology 90:42-50. https://doi.org/10.1139/z11-110

Iverson, S. A., W. S. Boyd, D. Esler, D. M. Mulcahy, and T. D. Bowman. 2006. Comparison of the effects and performance of four types of radiotransmitters for use with scoters. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34:656-663. https://doi.org/10.2193/0091-7648(2006)34[656:COTEAP]2.0.CO;2

Kirk, M., D. Esler, and W. S. Boyd. 2007. Morphology and density of mussels on natural and aquaculture structure habitats: implications for sea duck predators. Marine Ecology Progress Series 346:179-187. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07046

Kirk, M., D. Esler, S. A. Iverson, and W. S. Boyd. 2008. Movements of wintering surf scoters: predator responses to different prey landscapes. Oecologia 155:859-867. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-007-0947-0

Kirk, M. K., D. Esler, and W. S. Boyd. 2007. Foraging effort of Surf Scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) wintering in a spatially and temporally variable prey landscape. Canadian Journal of Zoology 85:1207-1215. https://doi.org/10.1139/Z07-105

Lacroix, D. L., S. Boyd, D. Esler, M. Kirk, T. Lewis, and S. Lipovsky. 2005. Surf Scoters Melanitta perspicillata aggregate in association with ephemerally abundant polychaetes. Marine Ornithology 33:61-64. https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/marine_ornithology/vol33/iss1/9

Lewis, T. L., D. Esler, and W. S. Boyd. 2007. Effects of predation by sea ducks on clam abundance in soft-bottom intertidal habitats. Marine Ecology Progress Series 329:131-144. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps329131

Lewis, T. L., D. Esler, and W. S. Boyd. 2007. Foraging behaviors of Surf Scoters and White-winged Scoters during spawning of Pacific herring. Condor 109:216-222. https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/109.1.216

Lewis, T. L., D. Esler, and W. S. Boyd. 2008. Foraging behavior of Surf Scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) and White-winged Scoters (M-fusca) in relation to clam density: Inferring food availability and habitat quality. Auk 125:149-157. https://doi.org/10.1525/auk.2008.125.1.149

Lewis, T. L., D. Esler, W. S. Boyd, and R. Zydelis. 2005. Nocturnal foraging behavior of wintering surf scoters and white-winged Scoters. Condor 107:637-647. https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/107.3.637

Palm, E. C., D. Esler, E. M. Anderson, and M. T. Wilson. 2012. Geographic and temporal variation in diet of wintering white-winged scoters. Waterbirds 35:577-589. https://doi.org/10.1675/063.035.0407

Palm, E. C., D. Esler, E. M. Anderson, T. D. Williams, and M. T. Wilson. 2013. Variation in physiology and energy management of wintering white-winged scoters in relation to local habitat conditions. Condor 115:750-761. https://doi.org/10.1525/cond.2013.120109

Žydelis, R., D. Esler, W. S. Boyd, D. L. LaCroix, and M. Kirk. 2006. Habitat use by wintering surf and white-winged scoters: Effects of environmental attributes and shellfish aquaculture. Journal of Wildlife Management 70:1754-1762. https://doi.org/10.2193/0022-541X(2006)70[1754:HUBWSA]2.0.CO;2

Žydelis, R., D. Esler, M. Kirk, and W. S. Boyd. 2009. Effects of off-bottom shellfish aquaculture on winter habitat use by molluscivorous sea ducks. Aquatic Conservation 19:34-42. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.977

Žydelis, R., D. Esler, W. S. Boyd, D. L. Lacroix, and M. Kirk. 2006. Habitat Use by Wintering Surf and White-Winged Scoters: Effects of Environmental Attributes and Shellfish Aquaculture. The Journal of Wildlife Management 70:1754–1762. https://doi.org/10.2193/0022-541X(2006)70[1754:HUBWSA]2.0.CO;2

Žydelis, R., D. Esler, M. Kirk, and W. Sean Boyd. 2009. Effects of off-bottom shellfish aquaculture on winter habitat use by molluscivorous sea ducks. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 19:34–42. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.977

Evaluating Effects of the Shellfish Industry on Scoter Populations in Coastal British Columbia