Summary
For 28 years, the survival up to fledging of Eider ducklings has been determined in the Dutch colony on Vlieland. On average 0.342 (0.001–1.528) ducklings per female fledged yearly. Within the ranges observed, the total number of ducklings that fledged seemed to be independent of the number of breeding females (range 800–2700) and the number of Herring Gulls in the study period. Indications were found of a sex-linked mortality occurring in some years. Correlations with a number of environmental factors suggested that low temperature in winter, high temperature at the end of May and the beginning of June, calm weather in May and June, and a high number of Herring Gulls were profitable for fledgling success. However, a stepwise multiple regression indicated only the temperature at the beginning of June as significant, explaining about 18 % of the total variance. The absence of a negative relation with breeding gull numbers confirms the interpretation of the role of the Herring Gull as a secondary mortality factor. Experiments showed that Goose Virus Hepatitis (syn. Goose Influenza or Goose Pest) was a primary cause of mortality among ducklings older than one week. The effect of diseases in the field was difficult to establish as diseased and weakened ducklings were usually eaten by gulls. A long-lasting fledgling failure was recorded from 1966 up to and including 1977. In the same period changes were noted in the biological systems in the North Sea.
Zusammenfassung
In einer Eiderenten-Kolonie auf der holländischen Insel Vlieland wurden die Überlebensraten der Küken 28 Jahre lang erfaßt. Im Mittel wurden jährlich 0.342 (0.001–1.528) Küken pro Weibchen flügge. Die Gesamtzahl der Küken war offensichtlich von der Anzahl brütender Weibchen (800–2700) sowie der Anzahl der Silbermöwen unabhängig. In einigen Jahren gab es Anzeichen für eine geschlechtsabhängige Sterblichkeit. Beziehungen zwischen der Rate flügger Jungvögel und einigen Umweltparametern, wie niedriger Temperatur im Winter, hoher Temperatur Ende Mai bis Anfang Juni, windarmes Wetter im Mai und Juni sowie der Präsenz vieler Silbermöwen ließen sich aufzeigen. Eine stufenweise multiple Regression zeigte jedoch, daß nur die Temperatur Anfang Juni einen signifikanten Einfluß hatte. Das Fehlen einer negativen Korrelation mit der Anzahl brütendee Möwen stützt die Annahme, daß die Rolle dere Silbermöwe als zweitrangig einzustufen ist. Versuche belegten, daß der Virus der Gänsehepatitis die Sterblichkeit von mindestens eine Woche alten Kücken unmittelbar bestimmte. Der Einfluß von Krankheiten konnte im Feld nur bedingt festgestellt werden, weil Möwen kranke und geschwächte Kücken üblicherweise fressen. Ein anhaltender Tiefstand des Aufzuchterfolges von 1966 bis 1977 fiel zeitlich mit allgemeinen Veränderungen der biologischen Verhältnisse der Nordsee zusammen.
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Swennen, C. Fledgling production of EidersSomateria mollissima in The Netherlands. J Ornithol 132, 427–437 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640382
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640382