A5028981021- Avian ecology and behavior
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Marine animal studies overview
- Plant and animal studies
- Marine and fisheries research
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Economic and Environmental Valuation
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Forest Management and Policy
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Aviation Industry Analysis and Trends
- Insect Pheromone Research and Control
- Archaeological Research and Protection
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Agricultural economics and policies
- Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
2010-2023
University College Dublin
2019-2022
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
2006-2015
Colonial breeding is widespread among animals. Some, such as eusocial insects, may use agonistic behavior to partition available foraging habitat into mutually exclusive territories; others, seabirds, do not. We found that northern gannets, satellite-tracked from 12 neighboring colonies, nonetheless forage in largely areas and these colony-specific home ranges are determined by density-dependent competition. This segregation be enhanced individual-level public information transfer, leading...
Abstract Aim An understanding of the non‐breeding distribution and ecology migratory species is necessary for successful conservation. Many seabirds spend season far from land, information on their during this time very limited. The black‐legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla , a widespread numerous seabird in North Atlantic Pacific, but breeding populations throughout range have declined recently. To help understand reasons declines, we tracked adults colonies over using light‐based...
We estimated the size of 30 defined populations geese wintering in Western Palearctic (including five released or reintroduced three species). Fourteen were accurately from almost full count coverage robust sampling and ten well based on more than 50% their total being counted. An 5.03 million wintered January 2009, up 3.10 1993. Only two numbered less 10,000 birds (Scandinavian Lesser White-fronted Goose Svalbard/Greenland Light-bellied Brent Goose, former critically small within restricted...
1. It has been known for some time that the consequences of 'decisions' made at one point in an animal's life may not always be borne immediately. For example, numerous studies have demonstrated trade-off between current and future breeding success across multiple taxa. 2. is becoming increasingly clear such processes also operate among seasons, conditions experienced annual cycle significant downstream impacts, or 'carry-over effects', this particularly evident migratory species. We might...
Summary Individual variability in prey preferences can have marked effects on many demographic parameters from individual survival and fecundity to the vital rates of entire populations. A population level response is ultimately determined by choices; however, effect dietary choice often overlooked. We consumers, light‐bellied Brent geese Branta bernicla , during overwintering period. Two hundred eighty‐one individuals were sampled at distinct temporal points over two winters. Stable...
Cultural transmission is thought to be a mechanism by which migratory animals settle into habitats, but little evidence exists in wild populations because of the difficulty following individuals over successive generations and wide geographical distances. inheritance migration routes represents whereby isolation can arise between separate groups could constrain potentially suboptimal sites within their range. Conversely, adopting parental route adult life, rather than dispersing randomly,...
MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout JournalEditorsTheme Sections 456:269-277 (2012) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09691 Foraging trip time-activity budgets and reproductive success in black-legged kittiwake Lorraine S. Chivers1,*, Mathieu G. Lundy2, Kendrew Colhoun3, Stephen F. Newton4, Jonathan D. R. Houghton2,5, Neil Reid1 1Quercus, 2School of Biological Sciences,...
In many animals, processes occurring in one season carry over to influence reproductive success and survival future seasons. The strength of such carry-over effects is unlikely be uniform across years, yet our understanding the that are capable modifying their remains limited. Here we show female light-bellied Brent geese with higher body mass prior spring migration successfully reared more offspring during breeding, but only years where environmental conditions breeding were favourable. bad...
Recent studies have suggested that protected areas often fail to conserve target species. However, the efficacy of terrestrial is difficult measure, especially for highly vagile species like migratory birds may move between and unprotected throughout their lives. Here, we use a 30-y dataset detailed demographic data from waterbird, Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus), assess value nature reserves (NRs). We how rates vary at sites with varying levels protection they are influenced by movements...
Studies in a multitude of taxa have described correlation between heterozygosity and fitness usually conclude that this is evidence for inbreeding depression. Here, we used multilocus (MLH) estimates from 15 microsatellite markers to show heterozygosity-fitness correlations (HFCs) long-distance migratory bird, the light-bellied Brent goose. We found significant, positive heterozygosity-heterozygosity random subsets employed, no model containing all loci as individual predictors multiple...
The manner in which patterns of variation and interactions among demographic rates contribute to population growth rate (λ) is key understanding how animal populations will respond changing climatic conditions. Migratory species are likely be particularly sensitive conditions as they experience a range different environments throughout their annual cycle. However, few studies have provided fully integrated analyses migratory response Here, we employed models demonstrate that the...
There is considerable evidence to suggest that an animal's ability access the appropriate resources at one time of year may profoundly restrict its performance another. For migrants, wintering and breeding periods are often connected by refuelling or staging periods, critical (particularly for females) in attaining body reserves required ensure successful breeding. However many instances there differences extent which different individuals gain highest quality resources. Here we demonstrate...
Environmental heterogeneity shapes the uneven distribution of resources available to foragers, and is ubiquitous in nature. Optimal foraging theory predicts that an animal's ability exploit resource patches key success. However, potential fitness costs benefits a heterogeneous environment are difficult measure empirically. Heterogeneity may provide higher-quality opportunities, or alternatively could increase cost acquisition because reduced patch density increased competition. Here, we...
Assessment of the importance migration stopover sites for waterbirds has typically been based on peak counts staging birds, which underestimate volume site (i.e., total number birds using over a season) because turnover individuals. However, is difficult to estimate. We present new method estimating series and concurrent resightings marked individuals, with an associated measure precision. Daily survival probabilities are estimated used estimate daily numbers recruits, then summed volume....
Summary Food availability is one of the major factors governing distribution animals. Because animal numbers can in turn regulate food, relationship between two be described terms resource depletion, which difficult to quantify. We present a novel method utilizing multisource stable isotope mixing models and daily ration approach predict depletion seagrass ( Zostera spp.) by grazing light‐bellied Brent geese Branta bernicla hrota at Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland. The model successfully...
Capsule There has been a decline in the numbers of waterbirds wintering Ireland between 1994/95 and 2003/04, including 5% wildfowl an 11% waders. Aims To provide estimates trends relative abundance selected waterbird species on island Ireland. Methods Waterbird counts were undertaken at key wetland sites each winter (September to March) 2003/04. For species, calculated for two five-season periods (1994/95–1998/99 1999/2000–03/04), while analysed over entire ten-season period. Counts modelled...
Bird migration is generally scheduled to avoid other energetically expensive events in the annual cycle (e.g. moult) and seasons when survival can be difficult northern winters). Purple Sandpipers winter at relatively high latitudes compared waders. It suspected that majority Britain Ireland originate from Canada, but there no primary evidence of their breeding grounds migratory routes. These birds, characterised by long bills, start arrive late October/early November, after completing...
Abstract Deterrents against avian pest species might be more effective if they were based on some aspect of the target species' sensory salience. Sonic Nets broadcast a loud and spatially‐ focused pink noise that spans frequency range vocalizations, restricting interspecific communication so it is costly for birds to remain in treated area. In parts their native introduced ranges, European starlings ( Sturnus vulgaris ) impact livestock operations where consume contaminate animal feed,...
Twelve migratory and native goose populations winter in Britain Ireland up to date information on their abundance distribution is provided. Seven are increasing: Barnacle Goose (Svalbard, current estimate 26,900 birds), (Greenland 70,500), Pink-footed (288,800), North West Scotland Greylag (34,500), re-established (50,000), Light-bellied Brent (East Canadian High Arctic 34,000) (Svalbard 3,270). Two appear stable: Taiga Bean (432 at two sites) Icelandic (98,300). Three decreasing: European...
Capsule The third survey of breeding waders in Northern Ireland showed large declines the abundance Eurasian Curlew, Lapwing and Common Snipe since 1987.Aims To estimate size populations selected wader species 2013 population changes previous surveys 1987 1999.Methods Complete all potentially suitable habitats were undertaken randomly 2 km squares each 146 land-dominated 10 across Ireland. Square selection a two-visit field method replicated conducted 1999.Results estimated to be 526 (±95%...
Capsule We examined regurgitates from Black-legged Kittiwakes during the early chick-rearing period over two breeding seasons at colonies in Ireland where diet has not been studied previously. Clupeids were dominant food source both colonies, which contrasts with other studies throughout British Isles that suggest feed mainly on sandeels this period. Our study is limited by sample size and restricted to season, but suggests a link between reproductive success dietary composition should be...
Long-distance migration in birds is a complex syndrome that involves high energy costs and, some species, substantial physiological re-organisation. Such flexible migratory phenotypes are commonly associated with bird species flying non-stop across vast ecological barriers, where there few opportunities to stop and refuel en route . Prior making flights, have been found atrophy organs not required (e.g., digestive organs) grow those powering flight (pectora muscles heart), presumably...