Long-term stability in the volume of atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) eggs in the western north atlantic

Kyle J. Lefort, Heather L. Major, Alexander L. Bond, Antony W. Diamond, Ian L. Jones, William A. Montevecchi, Jennifer F. Provencher, Gregory J. Robertson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

In the eastern North Atlantic, declines in the volume of Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica (Linnaeus, 1758)) eggs have been associated with shifts in the marine ecosystem, such as changes in the abundance of forage fishes and increasing sea-surface temperatures. In the western North Atlantic, where similar shifts in oceanographic conditions and changes in the abundance of forage fishes have presumably occurred, trends in the volume of Atlantic Puffin eggs remain unknown. In this study, we investigate Atlantic Puffin egg volume in the western North Atlantic. We compiled 140 years (1877–2016) of egg volume measurements (n = 1805) and used general additive mixed-effects models to investigate temporal trends and regional variation. Our findings indicate that Atlantic Puffin egg volume differs regionally but has remained unchanged temporally in the western North Atlantic since at least the 1980s.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)653-657
Number of pages5
JournalCanadian Journal of Zoology
Volume99
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Keywords

  • Alcidae
  • Atlantic Puffin
  • Egg volume
  • Fratercula arctica
  • General additive models
  • Seabirds
  • Western North Atlantic

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Long-term stability in the volume of atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) eggs in the western north atlantic'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this