Recent research using stable isotope analysis has shown a dependence on migrating or breeding populations of vertebrates as vectors for the transfer of marine-derived nutrients within coastal ecosystems. Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada supports numerous species of plants, a variety of seabird colonies (including common [Sterna hirundo] and Arctic [Sterna paradisaea] terns), the world’s largest grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) breeding colony, and a self-sustaining population of wild (feral) horses (Equus ferus caballus). I hypothesize that nitrogen cycling within this island ecosystem is highly influenced by the input of nutrients from seals and seabirds (‘biogenic vectors’), affecting primary production and potentially stabilizing higher trophic levels (i.e., horses). To examine this relation I developed a spatially-explicit isoscape for Sable Island through stable isotope analysis of nitrogen (δ15N) in samples (n = 282) of marram grass (Ammophila breviligulata). I incorporated significant variables (i.e., distance to vector colony and distance to shoreline, r2 = 0.41) into the final parsimonious interpolation model using universal co-kriging techniques. The greatest 15N enrichment occurred within the tips and along the perimeter of the island, coinciding with greater densities of grey seals, while the lowest values occurred within the centre of the island. I then identified individual contributions of seal-, tern- and horse-mediated transfer of marine-derived nutrients inland. Marram grass exhibited higher δ15N within seal (μ = 7.5‰) and tern (μ = 5‰) colonies, while horses and biogeochemical processes (i.e., volatilization, ammonification, etc.) most likely contributed to the homogeneity within the centre of the island (μ = 3.6‰). Due to the higher densities, wider distribution, and greater 15N enrichment of marram tissues, grey seals appear to be the most important vector species while seabirds have a more localized effect. The greater availability of N within vector colonies supplemented the local vegetation community, contributing to greater vegetation cover within colony boundaries. This relation had secondary effects on the horse population, which showed correspondingly higher horse δ15N values within the tips of the island (δ15N + 1.6‰) due to consumption of 15N enriched forage. I conclude that biogenic vector species promote nutrient transfer by establishing nutrient gateways which indirectly cause cascading effects throughout the food web.

En écologie évolutive, les comportements de reproduction sont particulièrement intéressants de part leur impact sur le succès reproducteur et donc leur lien étroit avec la valeur sélective individuelle. En s'appuyant sur des suivis individuels à long-terme de populations naturelles d'un rongeur hibernant et d'un oiseau marin migrateur, cette thèse a eu pour objectif 1) de déterminer la présence de sélection de parentèle et le lien entre l'environnement social et la philopatrie chez le spermophile du Columbia (Urocitellus columbianus) et 2) d'estimer le potentiel évolutif de la phénologie de la migration et la reproduction chez la sterne pierregarin (Sterna hirundo).Alors que la dispersion à longue distance a été largement étudiée chez de nombreux taxa, notre compréhension des mouvements au sein d'une colonie, en particulier en tenant compte de l'environnement social, reste limitée. Pourtant l'organisation spatiale des individus apparentés peut être fortement liée à l'évolution de la coopération, qui a pour condition nécessaire la présence de sélection de parentèle. Les travaux de cette thèse montrent que les femelles spermophiles du Columbia coopérant avec des apparentées ont une valeur sélective inclusive plus élevée que les autres femelles, révélant une forte influence de la sélection de parentèle. Les femelles sont fortement philopatriques au sein de la colonie et les mouvements à courte distance semblent liés à un partage de l'espace avec les apparentées. La philopatrie et les ajustements spatiaux permettent une forte proximité entre apparentées, qui est à la base de leur coopération. Ces résultats ouvrent des perspectives prometteuses pour explorer les mécanismes proximaux et ultimes de la coopération, en particulier en lien avec l'évolution des personnalités.Dans le contexte des changements climatiques, de nombreuses études chez les oiseaux documentent un avancement de la phénologie. L'étude d'une population déclinante de sternes pierregarins montrant un retard progressif des dates de ponte soulève l'importance d'évaluer les changements évolutifs attendus ainsi que les contraintes évolutives pour la phénologie de la migration et de la reproduction. Ces travaux montrent une diminution des variances phénotypique et génétique additive de la date d'arrivée de la migration printanière avec l'avancement du stade reproducteur. Ce résultat révèle un cas original de forte sélection passée pour la canalisation d'un trait comportemental, pouvant représenter une contrainte évolutive pour ce caractère. En outre, alors que la phénologie de la reproduction est classiquement considérée comme un caractère femelle-spécifique, l'analyse révèle un effet environnemental indirect du mâle sur la date de ponte, lié à la nécessité d'une synchronisation entre les partenaires pour l'arrivée de la migration printanière. Malgré d'une part l'absence de contraintes génétiques et d'autre part une héritabilité et une variance génétique additive significatives, les changements évolutifs attendus pour des dates de ponte plus précoces sont restreints du fait d'une sélection faible. De même, le potentiel évolutif de la date d'arrivée de la migration est limité. Des recherches futures explorant la plasticité phénotypique et la désynchronisation entre la phénologie des sternes et de leurs proies pourraient expliquer le retard de la phénologie de la reproduction en contraste avec nos prédictions. / In evolutionary ecology, behaviours associated with reproduction are particularly interesting because of their impact on reproductive success, and thus their close link to individual fitness. Using long-term individual monitoring of natural populations of a hibernating rodent and a migratory seabird, the aims of this PhD were 1) to determine presence of kin selection and relationship between social environment and philopatry in Columbian ground squirrels (Urocitellus columbianus) and 2) estimate the evolutionary potential of the migratory and reproductive phenology in common terns (Sterna hirundo).While long-distance dispersal has been well studied in numerous taxa, our understanding of within-colony movements is still limited, particularly with respect to the social environment. However, spatial organization of kin can be strongly related to the evolution of nepotistic cooperation, which requires kin selection as a necessary condition. My studies show that female Columbian ground squirrels that cooperate with kin have higher inclusive fitness, revealing a strong influence of kin selection. Females are strongly philopatric within the colony and short-distance movements seemed to be linked to sharing of space with kin. Philopatry and spatial accommodation promote strong proximity between kin, which is the basis of their cooperation. These results offer promising research perspectives for the exploration of proximate and ultimate mechanisms of cooperation, particularly linked with the evolution of personality.In the context of climate change, numerous studies in birds document advances of avian phenology. The study of a declining population of common terns exhibiting a progressive delay of laying dates indicates the importance of evaluating expected evolutionary changes, as well as constraints on migratory and reproductive phenology. My studies found a decrease of the phenotypic and additive genetic variances in arrival date from spring migration with advancing reproductive stage. This result reveals an original case of strong past selection for canalization of a behavioural trait, perhaps representing an evolutionary constraint. Also, while phenology of reproduction is classically considered a female-specific trait, analyses show an indirect environmental effect of male on laying date, linked to the need of partners to be synchronized when arriving from spring migration. In spite of, on one hand, lack of genetic constraints, and on the other hand, significant heritability and genetic variance, expected evolutionary changes for earlier laying dates are limited due to a weak selection. Similarly, the evolutionary potential of arrival date from spring migration is limited. Future research exploring phenotypic plasticity and the mismatch between the phenology of terns and their prey might explain the delay of the reproduction phenology, in contrast with our expectations.

Short breeding period and harsh climatic conditions are major limiting factors to which birds have to adapt in northern tundra regions. Despite this fact, dozen species of birds annually migrate into these regions to increase their chances to breed successfully. My diploma thesis focuses on incubation behaviour of the Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea). The research for my thesis took place on the Norwegian archipelago Svalbard, in two particular locations: Adolfbukta and Longyearbyen. By using the method of continuous video recording, I described incubation behaviour of this specie in detail. Human activity is very different on each of Adolfbukta and Longyearbyen. On site Adolfbukta study was conducted during seasons 2012 and 2014, both with different predation pressure. Having known that, I could evaluate the impact of human activity as well as the impact of different predation pressure on incubation behaviour and breeding ecology of Arctic tern. The presence of human close to the colony had significant effect on incubation behaviour. Due to higher disturbances, incubating birds tended to leave their nests more often, attention paid to the nest was smaller and calm incubation (sleeping on the nest) was shorter by a half. Human activity had no effect on other displays such as average clutch size or...

Populations of many European bird species have decreased in recent years. Of seabird species, roughly 25 % are classified as threatened or as species of future concern. In the Baltic Sea, an entire ecosystem faces the aftermath of anthropogenic changes, which might be one of the reasons behind the decreasing population of Caspian terns (Hydroprogne caspia). In this paper, an attempt was made to shed light upon nestling survival in Caspian terns in breeding colonies on islets outside of Gotland, Sweden, by using bird ringing data as well as re-sightings of post-fledged terns. Based upon literature from other species, I expected a higher survival probability with earliness of breeding time, and improved survival probability with higher nestling body condition. Significant study results showed that re-sighted Caspian terns had slightly earlier hatching day (150 ± 6.55) compared to never-again seen Caspian terns (153 ± 8.08), implying that early breeding time might be of benefit in the species. However, no significant result could confirm that high body condition in nestling terns was correlated with general survival probability, indicating that a myriad of other factors is likely at play. / Många fågelarter har under de senaste åren minskat drastiskt i Europa. Inom gruppen havsfåglar har konstaterats att omkring 25 % av alla arter tilldelats hotstatus eller bedömts vara av framtida mål för bevarande. I Östersjön hotas idag ett helt ekosystem av de effekter som genererats genom antropogena processer. Av populationer som påverkats i området med en kritisk tillbakagång under 2000-talet, inräknas den kolonihäckande arten skräntärna (Hydroprogne caspia). I denna studie användes ringmärkningsdata och återfyndsinformation från gotländska skräntärnor, i syfte att undersöka artens generella överlevnadschans i relation till födelseperiod och kroppskondition som ungfågel. Till resultatet förväntades att ungar födda tidigt under säsongen hade högre överlevnadschans än ungar födda sent.  En längre livslängd i dagar antogs höra ihop med högre kroppskondition hos ungfåglar på häckplatsen. Mitt resultat visade med signifikans att återsedda tärnor från Gotland hade lite tidigare födelsedatum i genomsnitt (dag 150 ± 6.55) än ej återsedda skräntärnor (dag 153 ± 8.08). Samband mellan tärnornas överlevnad och kroppskondition kunde ej påvisas, vilket indikerar att en mängd andra faktorer med all förmodan inverkar på skräntärnors överlevnadschanser.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / Wireless mesh mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) provide the military with the opportunity to spread information superiority to the tactical battlespace in support of network-centric warfare (NCW). These mesh networks provide the tactical networking framework for providing improved situational awareness through ubiquitous sharing of information including remote sensor and targeting data. The Naval Postgraduate School's Tactical Network Topology (TNT) project sponsored by US Special Operations Command seeks to adapt commercial off the shelf (COTS) information technology for use in military operational environments. These TNT experiments rely on a variety of airborne nodes including tethered balloon and UAVs such as the Tern to provide reachback from nodes on the ground to the Tactical Operations Center (TOC) as well as to simulate the information and traffic streams expected from UAVs conducting surveillance missions and fixed persistent sensor nodes. Airborne mesh nodes have unique requirements that can be implemented with COTS technology including single board computers and compact flash. / Lieutenant, United States Navy

An erosion control revetment was constructed at the Falkner Island Unit of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, Connecticut during the winter of 2000–2001. At the time, Falkner Island was the fifth largest breeding colony site for the federally endangered Roseate Tern. This study measures and describes some baseline information regarding Roseate Tern nesting, behavior, and habitat use at Falkner Island during the three breeding seasons prior to revetment construction (1998–2000). This baseline information is then compared to similar information from the first breeding season following revetment construction (2001). For Roseate Tern adults, this study examined changes in pre-nesting habitat use, nest site distributions, and pre-nesting behavioral time allocation. Changes in habitat availability and habitat use by Roseate Terns are compared as a result of the revetment construction. Roseate Terns used rocky beach in a greater proportion than other habitats before revetment construction, and used revetment boulders in a greater proportion than all other habitats after revetment construction. Roseate Terns nested more often in artificial sites (nest boxes and tires) than in natural sites in all years of the study. The mean date for the first eggs in each nest did not differ between years. We observed more Roseate Terns prospecting artificial nest sites (n = 66 times) than natural sites (n = 21 times) for three years of this study. Prospecting behavior occurred later in the season in some subcolonies, but this difference did not appear to be related to the construction. For Roseate Tern chicks, this study investigated the use of crevices as hiding places from before (1999–2000) and after (2001) the construction of an erosion control revetment. In all years, Roseate Tern chicks used crevices found under artificial nest sites more frequently than expected by chance when compared to crevices found in other microhabitats. Chicks also used crevices formed in various microhabitat types at different stages of development. The erosion control revetment created crevices that had larger openings, steeper floors, and deeper lengths than those previously used by chicks before construction. In the year after revetment construction, the openings of crevices used by chicks that died were wider than crevices used by chicks that survived. We discuss our findings in the context of the potential consequences that the revetment construction had on Roseate Tern chick survival.