Aggregation of nests in an Arctic-breeding shorebird and daily survival rates

Our current understanding of the factors that influence where birds nest is incomplete, yet such information is important for accurate demographic assessments. To address questions related to spatial distributions of shorebird nests and to evaluate factors that may affect nest distribution in these species, during 2017 and 2019, we studied a small population of semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) breeding in the Central Canadian Arctic, near the Karrak Lake Research Station, in Nunavut. The spatial distribution of semipalmated sandpiper nests at this site suggested loose aggregation, with median nearest neighbour distances of 73.8 m and 92.0 m in 2017 and 2019, respectively. Evidence for an influence of nesting distribution on daily survival rate of nests, however, was mixed. Neither nearest neighbour distance nor local nest density had a significant effect on daily nest survival in 2017, but in 2019, the best approximating model included an effect of local nest density, which indicated that nests in areas of high density had reduced survival rates. Contrary to other studies assessing settlement and nest site selection in semipalmated sandpipers, the spatial distribution of nests in this population demonstrates a role for social attraction in an otherwise territorial species and suggests that aggregated nesting can impose a cost on nest survival under certain conditions.

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Metadata Record Information

File Identifier
cc47e79f-b84a-46b2-9b6a-688bea69197d XML
Date Stamp
2023-05-13T17:24:04
Metadata language

eng; CAN
Character set
UTF8
Hierarchy Level
Series
Distributor
  Government of Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada; Science and Technology Branch / Wildlife and Landscape Science
Custodian
  Government of Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada; Science and Technology Branch / Wildlife and Landscape Science - Pauli, Bruce ( Chief, Ecosytem Health Research )
Principal investigator
  Government of Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada; Science and Technology Branch / Wildlife and Landscape Science - Gurney, Kirsty ( Research scientist )
Saskatchewan , S7N 0X4 ,
 

Data identification

Date (Publication)
2023-03-02
Date (Creation)
2023-03-02
Status
On going
Metadata language

eng; CAN
Character set
utf8
Topic category
  • Biota
  • Environment
  • Inland waters
Maintenance and Update Frequency
As needed
Point of contact
  Government of Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada
Fontaine Building 12th floor, 200 Sacré-Coeur Blvd , Gatineau , Quebec , K1A 0H3 ,

Keywords

Government of Canada Core Subject Thesaurus

  • Animal health

  • Animal research

  • Animal populations

  • Arctic

Business Functions

  • Expand Scientific Knowledge/Develop New Methodologies for Identifying, Monitoring and Managing Hazardous Substances and Waste

  • Protect Species Well-Being
 
Use Limitation

Open Government Licence - Canada ( http://open.canada.ca/en/open-government-licence-canada )

Access Constraints
License
Use Constraints
License
Begin Date
2017-05-15

Extent

N
S
E
W
thumbnail


 
 

Ref. system Reference Systems

Reference system identifier
http://www.epsg-registry.org / EPSG:3978 /
 

Distribution

Distribution Formats

Distribution format
  • XLSX ( unknown )

 
Distributor
  Government of Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada
 
 

Overviews

N
S
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Keywords

Business Functions
Expand Scientific Knowledge/Develop New Methodologies for Identifying, Monitoring and Managing Hazardous Substances and Waste Protect Species Well-Being
Government of Canada Core Subject Thesaurus
Animal health Animal populations Animal research Arctic

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