Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Alberta, 2009. / Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on July 10, 2009). "A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Ecology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta." Includes bibliographical references.

Wetlands of the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) provide important breeding habitat for greater than 30 species of waterbirds. Approximately 70% of PPR wetlands have been lost since European settlement and remaining wetlands are subjected to frequent degradation, primarily due to agricultural activities. Horned grebes (Podiceps auritus) are experiencing long-term population declines and are listed as a species of Special Concern in Canada. Because there is virtually no information on the status and trends of pied-billed grebes (Podilymbus podicep) this species is also of considerable conservation concern. Grebes are recorded on the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Surveys (WBPHS) conducted annually in May by the Canadian Wildlife Service; however, how accurately these counts reflect actual abundance has been unknown. Using a repeated counts method in 2010 and 2011, estimates of detection probabilities averaged 0.48 and 0.18 for horned and pied-billed grebes, respectively. These results suggest that WBPHS ground surveys may be used as an efficient and effective management tool for monitoring horned grebe abundances. However, low detection rates for pied-billed grebes lend little support for including the species in future monitoring efforts using the WBPHS. I recommend that the Canadian Wildlife Service consider implementing standardized ground survey methods to facilitate annual monitoring of horned grebe abundances. Marshbird research has focused primarily on breeding habitat use or selection but has seldom examined how productivity is related to wetland characteristics. Understanding processes that affect distribution patterns and productivity of grebes could provide insights into actions needed to achieve conservation goals. Therefore, occupancy of wetlands by breeding and brood-rearing horned and pied-billed grebes was evaluated on 6-7 study sites (5.8-11.6 km2) in south-central Saskatchewan, 2010 and 2011, and related to wetland and upland habitat features. Wetland occupancy by grebes was influenced by interspecific competition as well as local and landscape-level wetland features. Horned and pied-billed grebes rarely co-occurred on smaller (≤4 ha) semi-permanent and permanent wetlands. At the wetland level, horned grebe occupancy and productivity were highly correlated with the amount of emergent vegetation, whereas wetland area alone was a better predictor of adult pied-billed grebe occupancy and productivity. At a landscape level, the number of semi-permanent, permanent, and artificial wetlands on each study site was an important predictor of breeding and brood-rearing wetland occupancy probability for horned grebes in 2010 and for pied-billed grebes in both years. However, breeding horned grebe occupancy probability and productivity were higher in low wetland density landscapes in 2011. Horned grebes may be opportunistic, exploiting more of the available wetland habitats in low wetland density landscapes during years of above-average water conditions. Conservation initiatives for grebes should consider the roles of wetland-specific and landscape-level features while protecting semi-permanent and permanent wetlands in landscapes characterized by both high and low wetland densities.

The aim of this study was to examine what impact restored and constructed pounds and wetlands have on waterfowls in the area of Linköping. The birdlife in five constructed wetlands werechosen to investigate if specific factors like age, size and vegetation affected the avian diversity in wetlands. Also, extra focus has been given to the threatened Horned Grebe (Podiceps Auritus), breeding in the studied area. The results showed that the number of species as well as individuals of waterfowl and Horned Grebe changed over time in what might be a result of succession in the wetlands. Comparing the number of birds to the size of the wetlands showed a clear correlation. Larger areas inhabited greater numbers of species and individuals. However, the Horned Grebe showed a reverse result, as they seem to prefer smaller wetlands. Finally, a correlation between the numbers of observed Black-headed gulls and Horned Grebes could be found. When there was a greater number of Horned Grebes observed there was also a greater numbers of gulls present. Possibly the Horned Grebe takes advantage of the Black-headed gull-colony for protection against predators.

Av naturvårdsskäl är det viktigt att förstå vilken betydelse area och ålder på anlagda våtmarker har för artsammansättningen av sjöfåglar. I Linköpings kommun har man sedan 2004 anlagt ett flertal våtmarker och dessa har lockat bland annat den rödlistade arten svarthakedopping, Podiceps auritus, i stor mängd. Våtmarker är viktiga för fågellivet av många olika anledningar. Bland annat kan fåglarna söka skydd mot predatorer, häcka där eller rasta på sin väg mot häckningsplatser. Tidigare studier har bland annat visat att det finns fler fåglar i större våtmarker och att våtmarkens ålder spelar roll för vilka fågelarter som går att finna där. Genom räkning av antal fågelindivider och vilka olika arter som finns i de olika våtmarkerna kunde vi se att både ålder och storlek på våtmarken hade betydelse för vilka fåglar som utnyttjade dessa. Ju större våtmark desto fler fågelindivider och olika arter fanns det där. Det visar sig också att fågellivet gynnades då det fanns flera våtmarker av olika storlek och ålder i området. Vi kunde även se att svarthakedoppingens täthet var störst i lite mindre våtmarker och ökade signifikant med ökande antal skrattmåsar i våtmarken. / From the perspective of preservation it is important to understand how waterfowl are influenced by wetlands created by humans. Since 2004 the municipality of Linköping has created several wetlands which, among others, have attracted the threatened species the Horned Grebe, Podiceps auritus. The Horned Grebe is listed on the Swedish Red List of Threatened Species. Wetlands are important for bird life for many reasons. Among other things, the birds use them to seek shelter from predators, breed there or rest on their way to the breeding sites. Previous studies have shown that there are more birds in larger wetlands, and that age of the wetland does matter for which birds can be found there. By counting the number of individuals of birds and also the different species in the wetlands we found that both age and size of the wetland are important for which birds that are attracted. It also appears that the birds thrive when there are several wetlands in the area, and of different size and age. We also found that the Horned Grebe preferred smaller wetlands and that their abundance increased with increasing numbers of Black-Headed Gulls.

Återskapade våtmarker är av stor vikt för den biologiska mångfalden och särskilt viktiga för hotade simfåglar. För att öka kunskapen kring hur faktorer som våtmarkers area, ålder och fiskförekomst påverkar simfåglar i återskapade våtmarker studerades fyra våtmarker i Tinnerö naturreservat, Linköpings kommun. Av speciellt intresse var svarthakedoppingen (Podiceps auritus). Antalet svarthakedoppingar i de studerade våtmarkerna hade en positiv utveckling under våtmarkernas första år. Dock minskade antalet svarthakedoppingar i området mellan år 2009 och 2011. År 2011, efter anläggandet av Ekängsdalsgångens våtmarker, stabiliserades antalet igen. Slutsatsen är att nyskapade, fiskfria våtmarker ger goda förutsättningar för hotade arter såsom svarthakedoppingen. Utöver detta undersöktes även de didaktiska möjligheter, utifrån Skolverkets ämnes- och kursplaner för biologi, som exkursioner erbjuder. / Restored wetlands are of great importance for biodiversity, and especially important for endangered waterfowl. In order to increase knowledge about how factors such as wetlands area, age, and fish occurrence affect waterfowl in restored wetlands four wetlands in Tinnerö nature reserve, Linköping municipality, were studied. Of special interest was the horned grebe (Podiceps auritus). The number of horned grebes in the studied wetlands had seen a positive development during the wetlands first years. Between 2009 and 2011, the number of horned grebes in the area declined. The numbers were stabilized in 2011, after the establishment of Ekängsdalsgångens wetlands. The conclusion is that newly created, fish-free wetlands provide good conditions for endangered species such as the horned grebe. In addition to this the study also examined the didactic opportunities, based on the curriculum for biology, which excursions offers.

No description available.

I investigated if constructed wetlands provide breeding habitat for the Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) in northwest Alberta. Over two years, I conducted bird surveys of 201 borrow-pits (ponds created during road construction) and 18 natural wetlands and collected data on local habitat and landscape features. For subsets of ponds, I also collected water chemistry and invertebrate data, and conducted stable isotope analysis. Grebes occurred on 36% of borrow-pits and produced chicks on 61% of occupied sites in 2007 and 81% in 2008. Grebes occurred more frequently on larger ponds, with more emergent vegetation, and avoided forested ponds that supported beaver activity. Horned Grebes are generalist foragers that did not select nesting ponds based on food-web structure. Twenty-six other bird species used borrow-pits, with distinct assemblages occurring on agricultural versus forested ponds. My study indicates that wetland construction offers a viable method for creating habitat for Horned Grebes and other species. / Ecology

The population size of the horned grebe, Podiceps auritus, is declining in most of the world due to loss of wetlands, deteriorating water quality and establishment of predatory fish such as pike, Esox lucius, in former fish free wetlands. The horned grebe is now globally classified as vulnerable. In this study, data on population dynamics of the horned grebe in six created wetlands in Linköpings kommun was examined together with field work carried out in three of the wetlands. The results indicate that the number of pairs and juveniles of horned grebe crash six to eight years after the wetland is created and does not recover if there is fish present. The pairs and juveniles of horned grebe decreased significantly with the increasing age of the wetland if there was pike present in the wetland. Reduction fishing and drainage of the water in two of the wetlands inhabited pike showed a small improvement in population size of the horned grebe, but the numbers ultimately declined after a few years. Reduction fishing of common roach in one wetland showed a continuing improvement in the population size of horned grebe. Other factors that affected the horned grebe negatively, was an abundance of macrophytes such as Canadian pondweed, Elodea canadensis, that makes foraging harder.