Ecology and Conservation of North American Sea Ducks

ISBN-13: 9781482248975 / Angielski / Twarda / 2015 / 610 str.

Jean-Pierre Savard; Dirk V. Derksen; Dan Esler

Opis

The past decade has seen a huge increase in the interest and attention directed toward sea ducks, the Mergini tribe. This has been inspired, in large part, by the conservation concerns associated with numerical declines in several sea duck species and populations, as well as a growing appreciation for their interesting ecological attributes. Reflecting the considerable research recently conducted on this tribe, Ecology and Conservation of North American Sea Ducks examines the 15 extant species of sea ducks from North America. Chapters are organized conceptually to focus on, compare, and contrast the ecological attributes of the tribe. Experts provide in-depth treatments of a range of topics, including:

• Population dynamics and genetics
• Infectious diseases and parasites
• Breeding costs and cross-seasonal affects
• Contaminant burdens
• Foraging behavior and energetics
• Migration strategies, molt ecology, and habitat affinities and dynamics
• Breeding systems and reproductive behavior
• Harvest history

The book presents a comprehensive synthesis of sea duck ecology, documents factors that have caused population declines of some species, and provides managers with measures to enhance recovery of depressed populations of sea ducks in North America. Capturing the current state of knowledge of this unique tribe, it provides a benchmark for where we are in conservation efforts and suggests future directions for researchers, managers, students, conservationists, and avian enthusiasts.

Spis treści

Status and Trends of North American Sea Ducks: Reinforcing the Need for Better Monitoring. Phylogenetics, Phylogeography, and Population Genetics of North American Sea Ducks (Tribe: Mergini). Population Dynamics of Sea Ducks: Using Models to Understand the Causes, Consequences, Evolution, and Management of Variation in Life History Characteristics. Infectious Diseases, Parasites, and Biological Toxins in Sea Ducks. Dealing with Deficits: Breeding Costs, Nutrient Reserves, and Cross-Seasonal Effects in Sea Ducks. Metals and Trace Elements, Petroleum, Organic Pollutants, and Radiation in Sea Ducks. Foraging Behavior, Ecology, and Energetics of Sea Ducks. Variation in Migration Strategies of North American Sea Ducks. Remigial Molt of Sea Ducks. Site Fidelity, Breeding Habitats, and the Reproductive Strategies of Sea Ducks. Breeding Systems, Spacing Behavior, and Reproductive Behavior of Sea Ducks. Harvest of Sea Ducks in North America: A Contemporary Summary. Habitats of North American Sea Ducks. Conservation of North American Sea Ducks. Conclusions, Synthesis, and Future Directions: Understanding Sources of Population Change. Appendix A: North American Sea Ducks. Index.