Decline of spectacled eiders nesting in western Alaska

Arctic
By: , and 

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Abstract

Spectacled eider (Somateria fischeri) populations in western Alaska are now less than 4% of the numbers estimated in the early 1970s. In 1992, an estimated 1721 nesting pairs remained on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Causes of this rapid and continuing decline of -14% per year are undocumented. Many aspects of spectacled eider biology remain unknown, including their marine foraging habitats, food items, migratory movements, and population ecology. A review of some biological characteristics and possible threats to the species suggests the importance of quantifying potential impacts from parasites and disease, subsistence harvest, predation during brood rearing, and alteration of Bering Sea food resources. Factors causing the population decline of spectacled eiders must be determined and appropriate actions taken to reverse the trend.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Decline of spectacled eiders nesting in western Alaska
Series title Arctic
DOI 10.14430/arctic1352
Volume 46
Issue 3
Year Published 1993
Language English
Publisher Arctic Institute of North America
Contributing office(s) Alaska Biological Science Center
Description 14 p.
First page 264
Last page 277
Country United States
State Alaska
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