Breeding distribution of the Black Turnstone
The Wilson Bulletin
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Abstract
Eighty-five percent of the world population of Black Turnstones (Arenaria melanocephala) nest on the central Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 65% concentrated in a narrow band of salt grass, graminoid, and dwarf shrub meadows within two km of the coast. An estimated 61,000 to 99,000 birds (95% CI), with a point estimate of 80,000 birds, breed on the central delta. About 15,000 others nest elsewhere in Alaska. Abundance varies among habitats and with distance from the coast. On the central delta, highest breeding densities occur in coastal salt grass meadows (1.11 ± 0.16 birds · ha-1) and lowest densities occur on dwarf shrub mat tundra (0.04 ± 0.04 birds · ha-1). Breeding densities in mixed graminoid and dwarf shrub meadows decline significantly with distance from the coast, decreasing abruptly from 0.75 ± 0.11 birds · ha-1 within the first two km to 0.09 ± 0.03 birds · ha-1 farther inland. Although salt grass meadows constitute only 5% of the coastal lowlands, they support 25% of the population.
Suggested Citation
Handel, C.M., Gill, R., 1992, Breeding distribution of the Black Turnstone: The Wilson Bulletin, v. 104, no. 1, p. 122-135.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Breeding distribution of the Black Turnstone |
| Series title | The Wilson Bulletin |
| Volume | 104 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Year Published | 1992 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Wilson Ornithological Society |
| Contributing office(s) | Alaska Science Center |
| Description | 14 p. |
| First page | 122 |
| Last page | 135 |