Climate change and coastal wetland salinization: Physiological and ecological consequences for Arctic waterfowl
May 27, 2023
- Coastal wetland salinization related to warming climate has the potential to impact ecological systems globally. In Alaska, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD) supports large concentrations of breeding water birds and is an ecologically important area for conservation of migratory bird biodiversity. On the YKD, the majority of waterfowl nest in low elevation coastal tundra where storm surges drive saline water into terrestrial wetland habitats. Because newly hatched water birds lack functional salt glands to process saline water, salinization may negatively impact their growth and survival.
- We investigated potential demographic impacts of wetland salinization by conducting controlled physiological experiments to determine consequences of saline water exposure to spectacled Somateria fischeri and Steller's eider Polysticta stelleri ducklings, and analysed habitat suitability based on experimentally defined tolerance thresholds and sampled wetland salinity levels.
- We found physiological and behavioural pathologies in
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Title | Climate change and coastal wetland salinization: Physiological and ecological consequences for Arctic waterfowl |
| DOI | 10.1111/1365-2435.14363 |
| Authors | Tuula E. Hollmen, Paul L. Flint, Sadie Ulman, H.M. Wilson, Courtney Amundson, Erik E. Osnas |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Functional Ecology |
| Index ID | 70243994 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Alaska Science Center Ecosystems |
Related
Data from Sampling for Small-Scale Geographic Variation in Salinity Along the Lower Kashunuk River, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 1993 Data from Sampling for Small-Scale Geographic Variation in Salinity Along the Lower Kashunuk River, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 1993
This dataset provides salinity measurements collected from water bodies along 17 east-west transects in along the lower Kashunuk River, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta National Wildlife Refuge, 25 June - 30 July 1993.
Related
Data from Sampling for Small-Scale Geographic Variation in Salinity Along the Lower Kashunuk River, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 1993 Data from Sampling for Small-Scale Geographic Variation in Salinity Along the Lower Kashunuk River, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 1993
This dataset provides salinity measurements collected from water bodies along 17 east-west transects in along the lower Kashunuk River, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta National Wildlife Refuge, 25 June - 30 July 1993.