Ecology and Conservation of North American Sea Ducks (Studies in Avian Biology)

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. Front Cover 1 Contents 7 Editors 9 CONTRIBUTORS 11 Foreword 15 Preface 17 Introduction 19 Chapter 1: Status and Trends of North American Sea Ducks : Reinforcing the Need for Better Monitoring 25 Chapter 2: Phylogenetics, Phylogeography, and Population Genetics of North American Sea Ducks (Tribe: Mergini) 53 Chapter 3: Population Dynamics of Sea Ducks : USING Models to Understand the Causes, Consequences, Evolution, and Management of Variation in Life History Characteristics 87 Chapter 4: Infectious Diseases, Parasites, and Biological Toxins in Sea Ducks 121 Chapter 5: Breeding Costs, Nutrient Reserves, and Cross-Seasonal Effects : Dealing with Deficits in Sea Ducks 149 Chapter 6: Contaminants in Sea Ducks : Metals, Trace Elements, Petroleum, Organic Pollutants, and Radiation 193 Chapter 7: Foraging Behavior, Ecology, and Energetics of Sea Ducks 265 Chapter 8: Variation in Migration Strategies of North American Sea Ducks 291 Chapter 9: Remigial Molt of Sea Ducks 329 Chapter 10: Site Fidelity, Breeding Habitats, and the Reproductive Strategies of Sea Ducks 361 Chapter 11: Breeding Systems, Spacing Behavior, and Reproductive Behavior of Sea Ducks 389 Chapter 12: Harvest of Sea Ducks in North America : A Contemporary Summary 441 Chapter 13: Habitats of North American Sea Ducks 493 Chapter 14: Conservation of North American Sea Ducks 553 Chapter 15: Conclusions, Synthesis, and Future Directions : Understanding Sources of Population Change 585 Appendix A: North American Sea Ducks 593 STUDIES IN AVIAN BIOLOGY 597 Back Cover 603