Balancing between predation risk and food by boreal breeding ducks

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Ornithology

Background:

• Wetlands are threatened global habitats, impacting dependent species like boreal breeding ducks.
• Duck populations in Finland show habitat-specific declines, with underlying causes poorly understood.
• Habitat selection for ducks involves balancing predation risk and food availability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the interplay between nest predation risk and invertebrate food abundance for boreal breeding ducks in Finland.
• To understand habitat selection drivers for duck pairs and broods in relation to these factors.

Main Methods:

• Studied 45 lakes and ponds, surveying duck pairs and broods.
• Monitored artificial nests with camera traps to assess predation risk over 7 days.
• Sampled invertebrates using emergence and activity traps.

Main Results:

• Nest predation risk was higher in agricultural landscapes compared to forestland.
• Ponds (seasonal, beaver, man-made) exhibited lower predation risk and higher invertebrate abundance than lakes.
• Duck broods preferred food-rich habitats, while pairs' habitat use wasn't linked to food abundance.

Conclusions:

• High shoreline predation, particularly in agricultural areas, may drive duck population declines.
• Conservation efforts should focus on predator control and protecting diverse water body types, especially seasonal ponds.
• Creating or favouring beavers and man-made ponds can mitigate the lack of flooded waters.