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Habitat use in ducks breeding in boreal freshwater wetlands: a review

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Abstract

Breeding habitats strongly influence duck reproduction and survival. The boreal biome harbours a large share of the world’s wetlands, which are important breeding sites for several duck species. Based on 98 studies in the peer-reviewed literature, we here synthesize and evaluate which habitat characteristics affect habitat use and reproduction of ducks breeding in boreal freshwater wetlands with respect to (1) species and guild (dabbling, diving and piscivorous ducks) and (2) breeding cycle stage (settling by pairs, nesting and brood rearing). We consider the following aspects related to habitat: wetland morphology and spatial aggregation, water characteristics, habitat structure and vegetation, and biotic interactions. Most of the peer-reviewed studies of duck habitat use in boreal wetlands are from North America and Fennoscandia, while nearly half of the boreal area lacks such studies. Few species dominate research thus far while several others have not been studied at all. Nest site use and success are mainly related to predator avoidance. Food resources and habitat structure are the key characteristics affecting habitat use by duck pairs and broods as well as breeding success, although there are differences between duck guilds. Among the commonly studied variables, there is little evidence that water characteristics affect duck habitat use or survival. The most notable knowledge gaps are found in the effects of anthropogenic activities on habitat use and breeding success of ducks. Because boreal breeding environments are increasingly affected by human activities, we underline the need for future studies combining climate variation with natural and anthropogenic disturbances.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the Jenny and Antti Wihuri foundation to SH and by several grants from the Swedish Environmental Protection board to JE and KS. Comments by Toni Laaksonen and an anonymous referee greatly improved the text.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Sari Holopainen & Petri Nummi

  2. Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland

    Céline Arzel

  3. Division of Natural Sciences, Kristianstad University, SE-29188, Kristianstad, Sweden

    Lisa Dessborn, Johan Elmberg & Gunnar Gunnarsson

  4. Natural Resources Institute Finland, Yliopistokatu 6, FI-80100, Joensuu, Finland

    Hannu Pöysä

  5. Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-90183, Umeå, Sweden

    Kjell Sjöberg

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  1. Sari Holopainen
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Correspondence to Sari Holopainen.

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Holopainen, S., Arzel, C., Dessborn, L. et al. Habitat use in ducks breeding in boreal freshwater wetlands: a review. Eur J Wildl Res 61, 339–363 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-015-0921-9

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