Favorable spring conditions can buffer the impact of winter carryover effects on a key breeding decision in an Arctic‐breeding seabird

• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8588
• Publication Date: 2022-02-09T08:23:22Z
• Authors: Rolanda J. Steenweg; Glenn T. Crossin; Holly L. Hennin; H. Grant Gilchrist; Oliver P. Love
• Keywords: Eider

The availability and investment of energy among successive life-history stages is a key feature carryover effects. In migratory organisms, examining how both winter spring experiences to affect breeding activity difficult due the challenges in tracking individuals through these periods without impacting their behavior, thereby biasing results.Using common eiders Somateria mollissima, we examined whether conditions at an Arctic colony (East Bay Island, Nunavut, Canada) can buffer impacts temperatures on body mass decisions birds that different locations (Nuuk Disko Bay, Greenland, Newfoundland, Canada; assessed by analyzing stable isotopes 13-carbon winter-grown claw samples). Specifically, used path analysis examine wintering environmental interact propensity (a reproductive decision influencing lifetime fitness female eiders) within contexts timing arrival, pre-breeding (body condition), physiological proxy for foraging effort (baseline corticosterone).We demonstrate warmer predicted lower arrival nesting colony, whereas earlier dates higher mass. Both eider hens increased probability would initiate laying (i.e., propensity). However, variation baseline corticosterone was not linked either or temperatures, it had no additional downstream effects propensity.Overall, favorable Arctic-breeding compensate impact unfavorable have investment, perhaps greater access areas prior laying.