REMINDER: Call for Registration
Arctic Research Seminar Series
Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. (ARCUS)
Date/Time: Thursday, 14 April 2022, 9:00-10:00 a.m. AKDT
Speaker: Denver Holt (Owl Research Institute)
Presentation Title: Highlights of 30 Years Studying Snowy Owls and Brown and Collared Lemmings at Utqiagvik, Alaska
To register for the event, go to:
https://www.arcus.org/research-seminar-series
The Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. (ARCUS) invites registration for the next Arctic Research Seminar featuring Denver Holt (Owl Research Institute). Denver's presentation, titled Highlights of 30 Years Studying Snowy Owls and Brown and Collared Lemmings at Utqiagvik, Alaska, will be held via Zoom on Thursday, 14 April 2022 at 9:00 a.m. AKDT (1:00 p.m. EDT).
Webinar Abstract:
For 30 years (1992-2021) Denver and colleagues have been studying the breeding ecology of Snowy Owls at Utqiaġvik, Alaska. It is the longest continuous breeding study in the word, and conducted by the same researcher. They have studied 284 nests and banded ~ 800 owls, mostly nestlings.
Researchers have recorded > 43,600 prey from pellets, and > 3,300 prey cached at nests, of which > 2,500 have been lemmings. For lemming carcass cached at nests, they recorded sex, body mass, relative age, and reproductive status.
Researchers have also monitored lemming population fluctuations through snap-trap methods. Over 30 years, > 3,600 lemmings have been snap-trapped. They have recorded; sex, body mass, relative age, reproductive status, embryo counts, parasites, infectious diseases, and so forth. Although population fluctuations do exist, predictable cycles in the strictest definition of the word do not.
Additionally, researchers attached the first satellite transmitters to Snowy Owl in the world, recorded nest site characteristics, established genetic markers for estimating population, conducted hormone research in relation to pre-fledging nest departure of young, conducted growth rates and plumage development studies, and behavioral studies. Additionally, they have conducted an entire review their world ecology and population estimates.
Snowy Owl nesting numbers at Utqiaġvik have been declining since about 2009. Reasons are not known but climate change is suspected.
However, alternative questions for this decline do exist. For example, did the ~10 years of killing Arctic foxes to protect the threatened Steller’s Eider disrupt the entire ecosystem around Utqiaġvik? Do Brown and Collared lemmings and Arctic Fox have a relationship that benefits all three species? Did the removal of Arctic fox increase White-fronted, Brandt, and Snow goose numbers? And, in turn does the grazing impact on tundra plants, compete with lemmings, and reduce forage quality, quantity and ground cover, important for lemming survival?
These questions will be addressed in future analysis.
Registration is required for this event. Instructions for accessing the webinar will be sent to registrants prior to the event.
To register for the event, go to:
https://www.arcus.org/research-seminar-series
For questions, contact:
Stacey Stoudt
Email: stacey [at] arcus.org