Journal
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
Volume 86, Issue 2, Pages -Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22172
Keywords
auxiliary marker; band recovery; black brant; Branta bernicla nigricans; harvest; population dynamics; population estimation; survival; targeting
Funding
- Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
- National Science Foundation [DEB 0743152, DEB 1252656, DEB 9815383, OPP 0196406, OPP 9214970, OPP 9985931]
- Alaska Biological Research
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- James C. Kennedy Wetland & Waterfowl Conservation Endowment
- Alaska Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey
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Auxiliary markers, such as neck collars and plastic bands, play a crucial role in understanding migratory birds. This study examined the differences between black and brightly colored plastic bands in terms of recovery rates and survival of black brant birds. The results showed that while brightly colored bands initially had higher recovery rates, black bands increased more rapidly over time, resulting in similar recovery rates. Additionally, birds fitted with colored bands had lower risks of natural mortality and hunting. Further research is needed to fully understand the effects of these markers.
Auxiliary markers play an essential role in understanding migration, movement, demography, and behavior of migratory birds. Use of such markers relies on the assumption that the markers do not affect the traits of interest. Neck collars, among the most conspicuous of markers, substantially affect risk of harvest, and survival even in the absence of harvest. Effects of less-conspicuous markers, such as colored plastic tarsal bands, are not well understood. We used 30 years (1986-2015) of banding, recovery, and recapture data from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in Alaska, USA, to assess differences in direct band recovery rates (DRRs) between black plastic and brightly colored plastic bands applied to black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans). We also assessed the effect of the color of plastic tarsal bands on annual survival, risks of natural mortality harvest, and fidelity to the breeding colony of adult female black brant. When assessing only DRRs we found that brightly colored bands were recovered at higher rates than black plastic bands in the early 2000s, but DRRs for black bands increased more rapidly through time, resulting in similar DRRs for the 2 band colors at the end of the study. Using a Burnham model structure, our results demonstrated that individuals fitted with colored bands had slightly lower hazards of dying from natural causes or hunting than individuals carrying less-conspicuous black tarsal bands. Differences on annual probability scales were small and credible intervals broadly overlapped between band types, indicating minimal differences between individuals with different band types; however, we could not resolve all confounding in our study design and we suggest that specific studies directed at assessing marker effects are warranted. We encourage education of hunters about their roles as citizen scientists and the potentially detrimental effect of targeting birds with auxiliary markers.
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