Breeding ecology of the little auk in the conditions of changing climate
Examining various parameters of breeding performance of little auks in two consecutive years, we will compare collected data with analogical series collected in the past (2001-2018). This will allow us to evaluate the effect of ongoing climate changes on the breeding performance of the species, and so, to predict future changes in the birds population. Additionally, we will examine in detail the inter-individual differences between breeders, that have been reported previously, but their causality is not understood. Considering these inter-individual differences is crucial to perform reliable prognosis.
We will study following parameters: phenology, overall breeding success, frequency of mating behaviours, frequency and duration of incubation bouts, number of chick feedings and duration of foraging trips, location of foraging grounds, chick diet, adults and chick body condition, hormonal and behavioural stress response of adults, neophobia of adults, and parents-offspring recognitio, including chick begging behaviour. In total, for two study seasons we will handle 165 adults and 100 chicks of the little auk.
Data collection requires activities that are:
a) of minimum disturbance - no pain; i.e. negligible disturbance at
the moment of setting the equipment audio and video recording of birds
colony attendance, behaviour and voice activity, and at the moment of
systematic nest controls; feaces collection (collection of feaces, spontanously released during the handling procedure);
b) of minimum discomfort - no pain; i.e. a standard birds handling
(body measurements, taking photos, ringing), temporal restraint (10
min) for behavioural tests, temporal changes in the nest area (for behavioural test), collecting food samples (from gular pouch), attachment of GPS loggers (5 min of handling, and 2-3 days burden with 2 g logger); temporal chicks exchange (2 x 24 hours) among the focal nests.
c) mild discomfort - blood sampling (little pain; to establish birds nutritional state, and hormonal balance).
Replacement: It is impossible to obtain the data without studying
the species in the wild, in its natural conditions. Reduction: We
reduced the number of sampled individuals at each parameter to the
minimum required by scientific purposes. We also analyze various
aspects of breeding ecology of the little auk using the same individuals/data. (e.g. birds response to oceanographic conditions in
the number of feeding, inter-individual differences in parents
coordination of chick provisioning)
Refinement: We will handle the birds firm and quickly (we are all experienced field-workers), and will release them in the place of the capture, immediately after procedure (max 10 min. of handling). For
blood sampling, we will use sterile disposable equipment, and we will take a minimal amount of blood, which is safe for the birds. After all the behavioural experiments we will put the birds back into the nests.
We will study following parameters: phenology, overall breeding success, frequency of mating behaviours, frequency and duration of incubation bouts, number of chick feedings and duration of foraging trips, location of foraging grounds, chick diet, adults and chick body condition, hormonal and behavioural stress response of adults, neophobia of adults, and parents-offspring recognitio, including chick begging behaviour. In total, for two study seasons we will handle 165 adults and 100 chicks of the little auk.
Data collection requires activities that are:
a) of minimum disturbance - no pain; i.e. negligible disturbance at
the moment of setting the equipment audio and video recording of birds
colony attendance, behaviour and voice activity, and at the moment of
systematic nest controls; feaces collection (collection of feaces, spontanously released during the handling procedure);
b) of minimum discomfort - no pain; i.e. a standard birds handling
(body measurements, taking photos, ringing), temporal restraint (10
min) for behavioural tests, temporal changes in the nest area (for behavioural test), collecting food samples (from gular pouch), attachment of GPS loggers (5 min of handling, and 2-3 days burden with 2 g logger); temporal chicks exchange (2 x 24 hours) among the focal nests.
c) mild discomfort - blood sampling (little pain; to establish birds nutritional state, and hormonal balance).
Replacement: It is impossible to obtain the data without studying
the species in the wild, in its natural conditions. Reduction: We
reduced the number of sampled individuals at each parameter to the
minimum required by scientific purposes. We also analyze various
aspects of breeding ecology of the little auk using the same individuals/data. (e.g. birds response to oceanographic conditions in
the number of feeding, inter-individual differences in parents
coordination of chick provisioning)
Refinement: We will handle the birds firm and quickly (we are all experienced field-workers), and will release them in the place of the capture, immediately after procedure (max 10 min. of handling). For
blood sampling, we will use sterile disposable equipment, and we will take a minimal amount of blood, which is safe for the birds. After all the behavioural experiments we will put the birds back into the nests.