Marine moult migration of the freshwater Scaly-sided Merganser Mergus squamatus revealed by stable isotopes and geolocators

Solovyeva, Diana; Newton, Jason; Hobson, Keith; Fox, James W.; Afanasyev, Vsevolod; Fox, Anthony D.. 2014 Marine moult migration of the freshwater Scaly-sided Merganser Mergus squamatus revealed by stable isotopes and geolocators. Ibis, 156 (2). 466-471. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12133

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract/Summary

Scaly-sided Mergansers Mergus squamatus breed on freshwater rivers in far eastern Russia, Korea and China, wintering in similar habitats in China and Korea, but nothing was known of their moulting habitat. To investigate the moult strategies of this species, we combined wing feather stable isotope ratios (males and females) with geolocator data (nesting females) to establish major habitat types (freshwater, brackish or saltwater) used by both sexes during wing moult. Although most Scaly-sided Mergansers of both sexes probably moult on freshwater, some males and non-breeding and failed breeding females appeared to undertake moult migration to brackish and marine waters. Given the previous lack of any surveys of coastal or estuarine waters for this species during the moult period, these findings suggest important survey needs for the effective conservation of the species during the flightless moult period.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12133
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Other
ISSN:	00191019
Additional Keywords:	habitat use, Mergus, Primorye, remigial moult, δ13C, δ15N
Date made live:	25 Mar 2014 10:22 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/506661

Actions (login required)

View Item

Document Downloads

More statistics for this item...