Author(s): Kerekes, J.
Title: Habitat use by breeding Common loons (Gavia immer) in the Atlantic Region National Parks in Canada
Year: 2008
Volume: 54
Pages: 265-269.
Abstract: The breeding common loon populations are monitored where they occur in the National Parks in the Atlantic Region (Kejimkujik. Cape Breton Highlands, Fundy, Terra Nova, Gros Morne) and in the Experimental Ponds Area, ~100 km west of Terra Nova National Park in Newfoundland. The monitoring effort goes back to 1982 in Kejimkujik National Park while it commenced in 1997 in Terra Nova, Gros Morne National Parks. The lakes range from oligotrophic to ultra-oligotrophic. Overall, the adult population remained stable, with considerable year to year variation in reproductive success. Nutrients (phosphorus) through fish production controlled the lake size that is required to breeding success. In oligotophic lakes larger than 40 ha were required to support a chick to fledging while in ultra-oligotrophic lakes larger than 120 ha or several smaller lakes were needed as a territory to raise chicks. Smaller lakes less than 20 ha or less, close to the sea or to large lakes, where adults could fly to feed were able to support chicks to fledging (Fundy, Terra Nova). In spite of the great abundance of lakes of different sizes, breeding loons were observed only in one lake in Gros Morne National Park in Western Newfoundland. A mountain range on the Eastern boundary of the park prevents loons from moving in from the Atlantic side of Newfoundland.
Keywords: Common loon, loon breeding success, national parks
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.
