Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae

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Author(s): Gardarsson, A., Petersen, A. & Einarsson, Á.
Title: Population limitation in dabbling ducks at Myvatn, Iceland
Year: 2008
Volume: 54
Pages: 131-143.


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Abstract: Numbers of five dabbling duck (Anas) species were studied during 1975–2002 at Myvatn, Iceland, in relation to reproductive success, abundance of aquatic insects and density. In Eurasian wigeon (Anas penelope), spring numbers, proportion of yearlings and numbers of young were studied. In gadwall (A. strepera), mallard (A. platyrhynchos), pintail (A. acuta) and Eurasian teal (A. crecca), only spring numbers were estimated annually. Comparisons of spring numbers at Myvatn with numbers wintering in Iceland (mallard) and Britain (the other four species) were made. Change in habitat use and in total spring numbers of all five species tracked chironomid abundance. Change in numbers of mallard, pintail and teal was negatively associated with density in the year before. Production of young wigeon was correlated with chironomid abundance although weather played a role. Reproductive success, which was determined by the availability of protein food (Chironomidae) on the breeding grounds, was the main variable determining dispersion and return rates, and hence annual change in spring densities on the breeding grounds of all five species.
Keywords: Anas, waterfowl breeding populations, reproductive success, resource limitation, density dependence

Journal: Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae
Journal abbreviation:
ISSN: 1217-8837
Publisher: Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest
Editor(s): Bakonyi, G., Mahunka, S., Papp, L., Báldi, A., Csuzdi, Cs., Forró, L., Andrikovics, S. & Kerekes, J.