Habitat use of surf scoters wintering in the mesohaline region of the mainstem Chesapeake Bay, Maryland

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorAdams, Lowell Wen_US
dc.contributor.authorKidwell, David M.en_US
dc.contributor.departmentMarine-Estuarine-Environmental Sciencesen_US
dc.contributor.publisherDigital Repository at the University of Marylanden_US
dc.contributor.publisherUniversity of Maryland (College Park, Md.)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2008-04-22T16:08:24Z
dc.date.available2008-04-22T16:08:24Z
dc.date.issued2007-12-11en_US
dc.description.abstractSurf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) are common in coastal waters during winter, but remain one of the least studied waterfowl in North America despite indications of a declining population. Surf scoter foraging was investigated in the mesohaline region of the Chesapeake Bay during 2004-2005. The study compared biological and physical characteristics of benthic habitats among scoter feeding and non-feeding sites. Benthic samples were taken seasonally via a Peterson grab. Surf scoters foraged over oyster bar, packed clay and sand habitats, but avoided mud habitats. Clam densities varied seasonally, increasing over winter regardless of scoter foraging activity. Foraging activity appeared to influence hooked mussel densities on hard bottoms. Lack of foraging over mud habitats, where visibility can be limited, suggests that surf scoters may be visual predators and may have been impacted by habitat sedimentation The correlation of hooked mussel with oyster bars suggests that oyster restoration efforts may positively impact surf scoters.en_US
dc.format.extent869916 bytes
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/7793
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.subject.pqcontrolledBiology, Ecologyen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledsurf scoteren_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledChesapeake Bayen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledhabitaten_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledoysteren_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledforagingen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledwaterfowlen_US
dc.titleHabitat use of surf scoters wintering in the mesohaline region of the mainstem Chesapeake Bay, Marylanden_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
umi-umd-5076.pdf
Size:
849.53 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

UMD Theses and Dissertations
Biology Theses and Dissertations
MEES Theses and Dissertations