Breeding PHenology of Arctic Seabirds: A Hormonal Perspective (ORNITHO-ENDOCRINO)

We want to test the influence of environmental stress on the strong inter-annual variations in laying date and reproductive success observed in this species in Svalbard. Specifically, we will focus on corticosterone, the stress hormone, because of its role in mediating interactions between environment, reproductive physiology (hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis) and behaviour.

Data used: Breeding phenology (hatch dates) of black kittiwakes: 1970-2009 ( Breeding success of black-legged kittiwakes: 1970-2009 Capture ringing recapture (survival): 1997-2009 Body mass of black-legged kittiwakes: 1997-2009 Stress hormones levels of black-legged kittiwakes: 2000-2009 Diet of black-legged kittiwakes: 1997-2009 Foraging area by mean of miniaturized GPS: 2008-2009 Wintering areas of Black-legged kittiwakes by mean of GLS: 2008-2009 Data collected in collaboration with: Norsk Polar Institute (Tromso) Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Trondheim)