Effects of Human Disturbance on Breeding Least and Crested Auklets at St. Lawrence Island, Alaska
Piatt JF, Roberts BD, Lidster W, Wells JL, Hatch SA. 1990. Effects of Human Disturbance on Breeding Least and Crested Auklets at St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. The Auk. 107(2):342-350
We studied breeding success, chick growth, and diets of Least (Aethia pusilla) and Crested (A. cristatella) auklets on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, in summer 1987. Least Auklets had higher breeding success on control plots (50-66%) than on disturbed plots (36%). Crested Auklets had a breeding success of 42% on disturbed plots. Predation by microtine rodents and weather accounted for most natural chick mortality. Least Auklet chicks grew at a maximum rate of 4.9 g/day, and Crested Auklet chicks at 12.8 g/day. Least Auklet chicks were fed mostly copepods (Neocalanus plumchrus), whereas Crested Auklet chicks were fed Thysanoessa euphausiids.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Piatt, J; Roberts, B; Lidster, WW; Wells, J; Hatch, S
- Units
- GLBA
- Keywords
- auklet, Birds/Ornithology, breeding colony, Coastal/Marine Systems, Human Disturbance, mortality (seabird), population monitoring (seabird), Seabirds, St. Lawrence Island