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Unraveling migratory connectivity of two European diving ducks: a stable isotope approach

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Abstract

Quantifying the strength of migratory connectivity or the degree to which breeding and wintering populations are connected is crucial for conservation and management of migratory birds. Using stable hydrogen isotope ratios of secondary flight feathers (δ 2Hf), we assessed the breeding origins/locations of 666 common pochards (Aythya ferina) and 190 tufted ducks (A. fuligula) captured in France during the 2005–2006 and 2008–2009 wintering seasons. Isotopic values of common pochards wintering on Grand-lieu Lake (western France) displayed a marked bimodal spatial distribution supportive of strong contributions of both northern (60–65° of latitude) and central European (45–55° of latitude) origins. According to the temporal distribution of δ 2Hf values, the presence of common pochards of northern origin reached a maximum at the peak of the wintering season (December–January). In contrast, tufted duck did not display a clear bimodal pattern in δ 2Hf, with individuals displaying a more northerly origin (60–70° of latitude), likely of Russian and Scandinavian origin. First-year individuals had more northern origins than adults, suggesting that either isotopic discrimination differed among age groups or, more probably, that some adults may undergo moult at latitudes lower than that of their breeding ground. Tufted ducks with northerly δ 2Hf values were observed early in the season in individuals sampled in eastern France and late in the season in those sampled in western France. The effects of winter severity on the distribution of individuals over the wintering range were supported for the tufted duck with more northerly values recorded during harsh winters. Management implications of these results are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This study has been made possible thanks to the investment of numerous people. Many thank to Gilles Delacour, Christophe Sorin (Fédération des Chasseurs de Loire-Atlantique), and others for their invaluable help with captures and feather collection. Stéphanie Hennique was in charge of the feather database and sample conditioning. Special thanks to the initiator of the project, Matthieu Guillemain those help with first versions of the ms was also much appreciated. We thank Len Wassenaar for assistance with isotopic measurements. Comments of anonymous reviewers greatly helped improving the ms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Migratory Birds Unit, 8, avenue Albert Einstein, Bât B, CS 32355, 34323, Nantes Cedex 3, France

    Alain Caizergues

  2. Environment and Climate Change Canada, 115 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 0X4, Canada

    Steven L. Van Wilgenburg

  3. Environment and Climate Change Canada, 11 Innovation Blvd., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 3H5, Canada

    Keith A. Hobson

  4. Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

    Keith A. Hobson

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  1. Alain Caizergues
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  2. Steven L. Van Wilgenburg
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  3. Keith A. Hobson
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Correspondence to Alain Caizergues.

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The study was performed in accordance with law of the regulations in France.

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Caizergues, A., Van Wilgenburg, S.L. & Hobson, K.A. Unraveling migratory connectivity of two European diving ducks: a stable isotope approach. Eur J Wildl Res 62, 701–711 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-016-1048-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-016-1048-3

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