Annual movement patterns of endangered ivory gulls: the importance of sea ice

PLoS One. 2014 Dec 31;9(12):e115231. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115231. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

The ivory gull (Pagophila eburnea) is an endangered seabird that spends its entire year in the Arctic environment. In the past three decades, threats from various sources have contributed to a >70% decline in Canada. To assess the annual habitat needs of this species, we attached satellite transmitters to 12 ivory gulls on Seymour Island, Nunavut in 2010, which provided up to four breeding seasons of tracking data. Analysis of migratory behaviour revealed considerable individual variation of post-breeding migratory route selection. Ivory gulls traveled a median of 74 days during post-breeding migration, but only 18 days during pre-breeding migration. In contrast to predictions, ivory gulls did not use the Greenland coast during migratory periods. Ivory gulls overwintered near the ice edge in Davis Strait, but also used the Labrador Sea in late February and March. We suggest that the timing of formation and recession and extent of sea ice plays a large role in ivory gull distribution and migratory timing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Migration*
  • Animals
  • Breeding
  • Charadriiformes*
  • Ecosystem
  • Endangered Species*
  • Geography
  • Ice Cover
  • Oceans and Seas
  • Seasons
  • Spacecraft
  • Spatio-Temporal Analysis

Associated data

  • Dryad/10.5061/dryad.539M2

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Kenneth Molson Foundation, cheque number: 58-0-205568 (http://www.kennethmolsonfoundation.ca/); Environment Canada, agreement number: K4E21-12-0850, (http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&); Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, agreement 41-0-205561, (http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/index_eng.asp). Dr. Karel Allard and Dr. Birgit Braune of Environment Canada were involved in the data collection of this project. Environment Canada was involved in the study design and the preparation of the manuscript. No other funders had a role in study design, data analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript.