Sea ice phenology and primary productivity pulses shape breeding success in Arctic seabirds.

ABSTRACT: Spring sea ice phenology regulates the timing of the two consecutive pulses of marine autotrophs that form the base of the Arctic marine food webs. This timing has been suggested to be the single most essential driver of secondary production and the efficiency with which biomass and energy are transferred to higher trophic levels. We investigated the chronological sequence of productivity pulses and its potential cascading impacts on the reproductive performance of the High Arctic seabird community from Svalbard, Norway. We provide evidence that interannual changes in the seasonal patterns of marine productivity may impact the breeding performance of little auks and Brünnich's guillemots. These results may be of particular interest given that current global warming trends in the Barents Se

SUBMITTER: Ramirez F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5495753 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature