The influence of biotic and abiotic factors on banded common loon ( Gavia immer ) reproductive success in a remote, moun
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The influence of biotic and abiotic factors on banded common loon (Gavia immer) reproductive success in a remote, mountainous region of the northeastern United States Valerie L. Buxton
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David C. Evers2 Nina Schoch1 ●
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Accepted: 4 October 2019 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2019
Abstract Habitat degradation resulting from anthropogenic activities can threaten wildlife populations. Even wildlife existing in seemingly pristine areas are at risk of airborne pollutants and urban development. The common loon (Gavia immer), a toptrophic level predator in freshwater aquatic ecosystems, has previously experienced detrimental changes in reproductive success as a result of anthropogenic activities. However, long-term studies and large sample sizes are necessary to ascertain the impacts of various anthropogenic activities on this long-lived species. Using a multi-year dataset, we investigated the effects of multiple biotic and abiotic factors on the probability of adult male and female common loon hatching and fledging success. From 1998–2017, we banded individual loons, collected blood samples to assess mercury (Hg) exposure of the birds, and monitored their reproductive success. Adult female loon hatching success was negatively associated with the amount of rainfall received in a given year while fledging success was positively associated with the amount of shoreline development. Adult male loon hatching success was positively associated with the amount of shoreline development and fledging success was negatively associated with the number of other loon pairs on a lake. Keywords Common loon Reproductive success Mercury Development Adirondack Park Rainfall ●
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Introduction Wildlife is increasingly faced with multiple obstacles to successful survival and reproduction, even in seemingly pristine ecosystems. Some of these obstacles may be anthropogenic in nature, or derived as a result of anthropogenic activities. Pollution of ecosystems and development of habitat often disturb, degrade, or eliminate critical habitat (Wilcove et al. 1998). Subsequent repercussions to wildlife may include reduced likelihood of survival and lowered breeding propensity and output (Evers 2018). When these anthropogenic threats are combined with already-existing natural threats (i.e. predators, weather),
* Valerie L. Buxton [email protected] 1
Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation, P.O. Box 195, Ray Brook, NY 12977, USA
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Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Rd, Portland, ME 04103, USA
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individuals may be unable to successfully occupy these habitats. Aquatic ecosystem pollution is a major threat to wildlife globally (Dudgeon et al. 2006). In the United States, mercury (Hg) pollution, primarily derived from coal-fired power plants in the Midwest, is a concern to both human and wildlife health (Weiss-Penzias et al. 2016). While atmospheric Hg emissions appear to have decreased in recent years (Zhang et al. 2016), wildlife is still vulnerable to mercury’s neurotox
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