Biol Lett. 2016 Sep;12(9). pii: 20160275. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2016.0275.
- 1Friends of Cooper Island, 652 32nd Avenue E, Seattle, WA 98112, USA divoky@cooperisland.org.
- 2US Geological Survey Alaska Science Center, 250 Egan Drive, Juneau, AK, USA.
- 3Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME 04103, USA.
Abstract
Mandt's black
guillemot (Cepphus grylle mandtii) is one of the few seabirds
associated in all seasons with Arctic sea ice, a habitat that is
changing rapidly. Recent decreases in summer ice have reduced breeding
success and colony size of this species in Arctic Alaska. Little is
known about the species' movements and distribution during the nine
month non-breeding period (September-May), when changes in sea ice
extent and composition are also occurring and predicted to continue. To
examine bird movements and the seasonal role of sea ice to non-breeding
Mandt's black
guillemots, we deployed and recovered (n = 45) geolocators on
individuals at a breeding colony in Arctic Alaska during 2011-2015. Black
guillemots moved north to the marginal ice zone (MIZ) in the Beaufort
and Chukchi seas immediately after breeding, moved south to the Bering
Sea during freeze-up in December, and wintered in the Bering Sea
January-April. Most birds occupied the MIZ in regions averaging 30-60% sea ice concentration, with little seasonal variation. Birds
regularly roosted on ice in all seasons averaging 5 h d(-1), primarily
at night. By using the MIZ, with its roosting opportunities and
associated prey, black guillemots can remain in the Arctic during winter when littoral waters are completely covered by ice.
© 2016 The Author(s).
KEYWORDS:
Arctic; black guillemot; geolocation; sea ice; seabird
