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Trends and population dynamics of a Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) population: influence of density dependence and winter climate

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Abstract

As many seaduck populations around the world have been reported to be in decline, there is an increasing demand for knowledge about intrinsic and extrinsic factors determining population dynamics of these species. In this study, we analyzed long-term dynamics of the summer population of Velvet Scoters (Melanitta fusca) breeding in the Åland archipelago in the Baltic Sea; in particular, we examined the influence of winter weather and density dependence on population change. The studied population exhibited substantial fluctuations but only a weak negative trend during the total period of 58 years (1949–2007), and no significant trend at all during the latter three decades of the study (1977–2007). We tested for density dependence and incorporated the winter North Atlantic Oscillation index into the model to test for effects of winter conditions. Our final model explained 56.3 % of the variance of population growth of the studied population. Delayed density dependence explained 29.7 %, pre-breeding climate 8.3 %, and post-breeding climate 18.3 % of the variance. That breeding success is density dependent in a delayed manner is in accordance with the apprehension that Velvet Scoters breed at the age of 2 years. We conclude that density dependence and winter conditions must be taken into consideration when discussing population changes in seaducks in general and the Velvet Scoter in particular.

Zusammenfassung

Trend und Populationsdynamik einer Samtentenpopulation ( Melanitta fusca ): Einfluss von Dichteabhängigkeit und Winterklima

Weltweit gehen zahlreiche Populationen von Meeresenten im Bestand zurück. Deshalb benötigen wir mehr Einsicht, wie intrinsische und extrinsische Faktoren die Populationsentwicklung dieser Arten bestimmen. In dieser Studie wurden Langzeittrends einer Brutpopulation von Samtenten (Melanitta fusca) untersucht, die auf den Ålandinseln in der Ostsee brüten. Wir haben insbesondere die Einflüsse von Winterwetter und Dichteabhängigkeit auf die Populationsentwicklung untersucht. Es waren beträchtliche Fluktuationen, aber nur ein schwacher negativer Trend in der gesamten Zeitspanne von 58 Jahren (1949–2007) und kein Trend in den letzten drei Jahrzehnten (1977–2007) der Studie zu beobachten. Mit einem Populationsmodell haben wir auf Dichteabhängigkeit getestet und untersucht, ob der Winter-NAO-Index im Modell als Indikator für Winterwetter einen Einfluss auf die Populationsentwicklung der Samtenten hat. Das beste Modell erklärt 56.3 % der Varianz im Wachstum der untersuchten Population. Verzögerte Dichteabhängigkeit erklärt 29.7 %, das Klima vor der Brutzeit 8.3 % und Klima nach der Brut 18.3 % der Varianz. Das Ergebnis, dass Bruterfolg verzögert dichteabhängig war, steht in Übereinstimmung mit der Hypothese, dass Samtenten im Alter von zwei Jahren beginnen zu brüten. Dichteabhängigkeit und Winterwetter sind also bei der Betrachtung der Populationsentwicklung von Meeresenten im Allgemeinen und Samtenten im Speziellen zu berücksichtigen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7044, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden

    Göran Hartman & Karl Larsson

  2. Project Group Movement Ecology, and Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Andrea Kölzsch

  3. Näringsavdelningen, Ålands landskapsregering, PB 1060, 22111, Mariehamn, Åland

    Marcus Nordberg

  4. Department of Population Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 752 36, Uppsala, Sweden

    Jacob Höglund

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  1. Göran Hartman
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  2. Andrea Kölzsch
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  3. Karl Larsson
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  4. Marcus Nordberg
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  5. Jacob Höglund
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Correspondence to Göran Hartman.

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Communicated by F. Bairlein.

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Hartman, G., Kölzsch, A., Larsson, K. et al. Trends and population dynamics of a Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) population: influence of density dependence and winter climate. J Ornithol 154, 837–847 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-013-0950-7

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