Dataset Identification:
Resource Abstract:
- description: The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD) is the most southerly (60 to 62 N) and the only sub-Arctic breeding area of Pacific
brant (Branta bemicla nigricans) supporting an estimated 80% of the Pacific Flyway (PF) population. The remainder breed in
Arctic habitats of Alaska, Canada, and Russia to 78 N. Nesting failures due to late springs have been observed at Arctic breeding
areas but not on the YKD. Nesting habitat on the YKD is available 2 to 4 weeks earlier than in the Arctic and YKD brant also
benefited from shorter migration from staging areas. Dates of ice break-up of the Kuskokwim River at Bethel and 50 percent
snow-melt along the lower Kashunuk River from 1969 to 1979 were positively correlated with timing of arrival and nesting (P<0.01)
and nest density (P>0.05) but density declined during the study(P<0.01). Clutch size was not affected by timing of break-up
or snow-melt (P>O.l) but decreased slightly in late years. Nest success averaged 0.765 throughout the study, and increased
(0.850) when , impacts of tidal flooding, predation and subsistence harvest were low. The lack of large scale reproductive
failures on the YKD contributes stability to the PF brant population; however, nesting declines at the Kashunuk River and
possibly other YKD colonies have reduced this stabilizing effect.; abstract: The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD) is the most southerly
(60 to 62 N) and the only sub-Arctic breeding area of Pacific brant (Branta bemicla nigricans) supporting an estimated 80%
of the Pacific Flyway (PF) population. The remainder breed in Arctic habitats of Alaska, Canada, and Russia to 78 N. Nesting
failures due to late springs have been observed at Arctic breeding areas but not on the YKD. Nesting habitat on the YKD is
available 2 to 4 weeks earlier than in the Arctic and YKD brant also benefited from shorter migration from staging areas.
Dates of ice break-up of the Kuskokwim River at Bethel and 50 percent snow-melt along the lower Kashunuk River from 1969 to
1979 were positively correlated with timing of arrival and nesting (P<0.01) and nest density (P>0.05) but density declined
during the study(P<0.01). Clutch size was not affected by timing of break-up or snow-melt (P>O.l) but decreased slightly
in late years. Nest success averaged 0.765 throughout the study, and increased (0.850) when , impacts of tidal flooding, predation
and subsistence harvest were low. The lack of large scale reproductive failures on the YKD contributes stability to the PF
brant population; however, nesting declines at the Kashunuk River and possibly other YKD colonies have reduced this stabilizing
effect.
Citation
- Title Ice break-up and snow-melt as spring indices of reproductive effort and population size of Pacific brant at the Kashunuk River,
Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska.
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- creation Date
2018-05-19T08:45:08.525322
Resource language:
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Metadata data stamp:
2018-08-06T21:07:20Z
Resource Maintenance Information
- maintenance or update frequency:
- notes: This metadata record was generated by an xslt transformation from a dc metadata record; Transform by Stephen M. Richard, based
on a transform by Damian Ulbricht. Run on 2018-08-06T21:07:20Z
Metadata contact
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pointOfContact
- organisation Name
CINERGI Metadata catalog
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- Contact information
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- Address
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- electronic Mail Address cinergi@sdsc.edu
Metadata language
eng
Metadata character set encoding:
utf8
Metadata standard for this record:
ISO 19139 Geographic Information - Metadata - Implementation Specification
standard version:
2007
Metadata record identifier:
urn:dciso:metadataabout:7081904a-6a46-49ab-af33-1da0be551872
Metadata record format is ISO19139 XML (MD_Metadata)