Aggregations of foraging black guillemots (Cepphus grylle) at a sea-ice edge in front of a tidewater glacier
Seabirds in cold biomes sometimes aggregate near glacier fronts and at sea-ice edges to forage. In this note, we report on large aggregations of black guillemots (Cepphus grylle) at the edge of sea ice in front of the tidewater glacier Kongsbreen (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard). During several days in the...
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Format: | Article |
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Norwegian Polar Institute
2022-11-01
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Series: | Polar Research |
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Online Access: | https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/7141/14974 |
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author | Øystein Varpe Geir W. Gabrielsen |
author_facet | Øystein Varpe Geir W. Gabrielsen |
author_sort | Øystein Varpe |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Seabirds in cold biomes sometimes aggregate near glacier fronts and at sea-ice edges to forage. In this note, we report on large aggregations of black guillemots (Cepphus grylle) at the edge of sea ice in front of the tidewater glacier Kongsbreen (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard). During several days in the second half of June 2011, we observed 49–155 individuals of black guillemots at this ice edge. They foraged actively, and many of the dives were directed underneath the sea ice. The outflow of glacial meltwater and resulting upwelling generated opportunities for the black guillemots to feed, likely on zooplankton or fish. The black guillemots used the sea ice as a resting platform between dives or diving sessions, and whilst on the ice, they interacted socially. On our last visit, the sea ice was gone, and the black guillemots had left the bay. At the neighbouring tidewater glacier Kronebreen, there was no sea ice connected to the glacier. Surface-feeding seabirds, particularly black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla), were numerous at the plumes generated by meltwater from Kronebreen. Black guillemots were not seen at these plumes, but some individuals were seen scattered in the fjord system. Our observations add to the natural history of black guillemots and enhance our knowledge of ecological interactions and seabird habitat use shaped by tidewater glaciers. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-11T04:55:03Z |
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issn | 0800-0395 1751-8369 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-11T04:55:03Z |
publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
publisher | Norwegian Polar Institute |
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spelling | doaj.art-0bacda8783814c72a667ea3ea601eb042022-12-26T15:17:16ZengNorwegian Polar InstitutePolar Research0800-03951751-83692022-11-01411610.33265/polar.v41.71417141Aggregations of foraging black guillemots (Cepphus grylle) at a sea-ice edge in front of a tidewater glacierØystein Varpe0Geir W. Gabrielsen1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, NorwayNorwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, NorwaySeabirds in cold biomes sometimes aggregate near glacier fronts and at sea-ice edges to forage. In this note, we report on large aggregations of black guillemots (Cepphus grylle) at the edge of sea ice in front of the tidewater glacier Kongsbreen (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard). During several days in the second half of June 2011, we observed 49–155 individuals of black guillemots at this ice edge. They foraged actively, and many of the dives were directed underneath the sea ice. The outflow of glacial meltwater and resulting upwelling generated opportunities for the black guillemots to feed, likely on zooplankton or fish. The black guillemots used the sea ice as a resting platform between dives or diving sessions, and whilst on the ice, they interacted socially. On our last visit, the sea ice was gone, and the black guillemots had left the bay. At the neighbouring tidewater glacier Kronebreen, there was no sea ice connected to the glacier. Surface-feeding seabirds, particularly black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla), were numerous at the plumes generated by meltwater from Kronebreen. Black guillemots were not seen at these plumes, but some individuals were seen scattered in the fjord system. Our observations add to the natural history of black guillemots and enhance our knowledge of ecological interactions and seabird habitat use shaped by tidewater glaciers.https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/7141/14974alcidaecoastal ecologymarine-terminating glaciercryospherearcticestuarine circulation |
spellingShingle | Øystein Varpe Geir W. Gabrielsen Aggregations of foraging black guillemots (Cepphus grylle) at a sea-ice edge in front of a tidewater glacier Polar Research alcidae coastal ecology marine-terminating glacier cryosphere arctic estuarine circulation |
title | Aggregations of foraging black guillemots (Cepphus grylle) at a sea-ice edge in front of a tidewater glacier |
title_full | Aggregations of foraging black guillemots (Cepphus grylle) at a sea-ice edge in front of a tidewater glacier |
title_fullStr | Aggregations of foraging black guillemots (Cepphus grylle) at a sea-ice edge in front of a tidewater glacier |
title_full_unstemmed | Aggregations of foraging black guillemots (Cepphus grylle) at a sea-ice edge in front of a tidewater glacier |
title_short | Aggregations of foraging black guillemots (Cepphus grylle) at a sea-ice edge in front of a tidewater glacier |
title_sort | aggregations of foraging black guillemots cepphus grylle at a sea ice edge in front of a tidewater glacier |
topic | alcidae coastal ecology marine-terminating glacier cryosphere arctic estuarine circulation |
url | https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/7141/14974 |
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