BIOLOGICAL MONITORING AT EAST AMATULI ISLAND, ALASKA IN 2014

Transcription

1 AMNWR 2015/06 BIOLOGICAL MONITORING AT EAST AMATULI ISLAND, ALASKA IN 2014 Arthur B. Kettle, Naomi Bargmann, and Stephanie Winnard Key words: Barren Islands, black-legged kittiwake, breeding chronology, Cerorhinca monocerata, chick diet, chick growth, common murre, East Amatuli Island, fork-tailed storm-petrel, Fratercula cirrhata, glaucous-winged gull, Larus glaucescens, Oceanodroma furcata, populations, productivity, Rissa tridactyla, tufted puffin, reproductive success, Uria aalge U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge 95 Sterling Highway, Suite 1 Homer, AK April 2015 Cite as: Kettle, A.B., N. Bargmann, and S. Winnard Biological monitoring at East Amatuli Island, Alaska in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Report, AMNWR 2015/06. Homer, Alaska.

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION... 1 STUDY AREA... 1 METHODS... 2 INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS... 2 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS... 3 REFERENCES... 3 FIGURES AND TABLES... 5 Fork-tailed storm-petrel Reproductive performance Chick growth Population trend Chick diet Common murre Breeding chronology Reproductive performance Population trend Chick diet Tufted puffin Chick growth Population trend Chick diet Black-legged kittiwake Reproductive performance Population trend Glaucous-winged gull Beach counts of fledglings Miscellaneous Sea surface temperature Precipitation Annotated list of wildlife species Monitoring and study history i

3 INTRODUCTION The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (AMNWR) conducts annual ecological monitoring at nine sites throughout Alaska (Figure 1). The objective of this long-term monitoring program is to collect baseline status and trend information for a suite of seabird species representing piscivorous and planktivorous trophic guilds, including key species that serve as indicators of ecosystem health. Members of these guilds include surface-feeders and divers feeding in both nearshore and offshore waters. By comparing the data with environmental conditions and information from other sites, ecosystem processes may be better understood. Data also provide a basis for directing management and research actions, and in assessing effects of management. East Amatuli Island has been a Refuge-funded annual monitoring site since 2000 (except in 2012 when due to a Refuge budget cut monitoring did not occur). During , selected seabird species were monitored annually for oil spill damage assessment and recovery by the Refuge with funding from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council (Roseneau et al 1995, 2000). Detailed results of the 2014 East Amatuli Island monitoring field season are contained in this report and archived at the AMNWR headquarters in Homer, Alaska. Summary data are also included in the annual Alaska seabird monitoring report (e.g., Dragoo et al. 2015) STUDY AREA East Amatuli Island (58 55' N, ' W) is one of the seven Barren Islands, located between the Kodiak archipelago and the Kenai Peninsula (Figures 2, 3, and 4). The Barren Islands range in size from 10 to 2800 ha, totaling about 4000 ha. Geologically the islands are a continuation of the Kenai Peninsula and are of mixed origin (from a map by Wilson et al. 2009). They are generally steep and tall, ranging to an elevation of 650 m. Among the eighteen species of seabirds that breed on the islands are about 75,000 pairs of fork-tailed storm-petrels (Oceanodroma furcata), 25,000 pairs of black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla), 3,400 pairs of glaucous-winged gulls (Larus glaucescens), 60,000 pairs of common murres (Uria aalge), and 70,000 pairs of tufted puffins (Fratercula cirrhata; Manuwal 1980, Roseneau et al. 2000). Of the Barren Islands group East Amatuli contains the highest seabird abundance. The island provides ledges physically suitable for cliff-nesting birds and contains substrate for burrow-nesters. While the North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is common across the island group, the group s other mammalian seabird predators--northern red-backed vole (Clethrionmys rutilus, present on West Amatuli and Ushagat) and arctic ground squirrel (Spermophilus parryii, present on Ushagat)--are absent from East Amatuli. Most of East Amatuli Island is comprised of steep slopes, with a spine ranging in elevation to 470 m. Lower elevations are dominated by grasses and sedges; higher elevations by crowberry (Empetrum nigrum) and other maritime tundra plants. High marine productivity around the Barren Islands contributes to the seabird breeding habitat. Steep local bathymetry, the location at the entrance to Cook Inlet with its large tides and currents, the surrounding Alaska Coastal Current, and the strong winds of the area are factors that make the Barren Islands prolific for large numbers of breeding seabirds and marine mammals. 1

4 METHODS Personnel: The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service field crew at East Amatuli Island in 2014 consisted of Naomi Bargmann and Stephanie Winnard (15 July-20 September), Arthur Kettle (15-27 July and September), and Heather Renner and Leslie Slater (15-27 July). Our arrival date allowed us to begin observations of storm-petrels while some eggs were still present and weeks before chick-fledging began; of kittiwakes and gulls before chicks fledged; of murres before eggs hatched; and of puffins during the linear phase of chick growth. We departed once we d seen 90 percent of the murre chicks fledge from our study plots. At that time many storm-petrel chicks and all kittiwake and puffin chicks had fledged from the plots. Data Collection and Analysis: Study areas are shown in Figure 4. For parameters in this report researchers followed data collection and analysis methods in Kettle (2013), except that this year observations of productivity plots of cliff-nesting seabirds were made using only time-lapse photography. Eight cameras recorded images once an hour from mid-july to mid-september. Images covered six of the 11 annually-followed kittiwake plots and three of the 10 annual murre plots for the full monitoring season. Other images were used to count adults on the rest of the plots through the season. The following table lists the parameters monitored this year with indices used at this site: Seabird biological parameters monitored ( y ) during the 2014 breeding season at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Species Nesting date Breeding performance Chick growth Chick diet Population trend Fork-tailed storm-petrel y a y y y y Black-legged kittiwake y y - - y Glaucous-winged gull - y Common murre y y - - y Tufted puffin - y y y y a In a future report fork-tailed storm-petrel nesting date for this season will be estimated from the chick growth data. INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS Pilot studies: We continued pilot studies for monitoring tufted puffin roosting behavior and population trend with time-lapse photography. A digital time-lapse camera recorded images of a hillside of active puffin habitat once an hour for most of the field season. These images will be analyzed to test the feasibility of using this method for monitoring population trend and possibly productivity for the island s steep, fragile puffin habitat. We also used a Reconyx PC900 Hyperfire camera to record images of another slope every second for each of several days. These images will be used to help determine the optimal image-recording frequency for the longer-term cameras. Time-lapse photography has the potential to decrease observer effects of population and productivity monitoring of puffins at this monitoring site. 2

5 We also continued our pilot study of photographing bill loads of flying puffins as a way to monitor chick diet. Rhinoceros auklet burrows: During the night of July, Leslie Slater watched rhinoceros auklet burrows in the beach bluff at Amatuli Cove. Adult auklets flew into burrows in both burrow areas one at the east end of the beach and the other near the west end. It appeared that the adults were feeding chicks in both of these recently (west end in 2009 and east end in 2013) discovered habitat areas. Tufted puffin diet: Rockfish of the Sebastidae family made up a substantial portion of tufted puffin chicks diet. This hadn t occurred in previous monitoring years. Whales observed: There was an unusual absence of whales during the field season. The only observation of whales was a couple of blows of an unidentified species (probably humpbacks) on one day. On the evening of August 16 an unidentified dead whale was observed drifting by Amatuli Cove. Pictures were sent to NOAA biologists for identification. Spiny dogfish tag: A tag from a National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) spiny dogfish study was found on the E. Amatuli beach; the tag has been sent to NMFS. Sea surface temperature: From January through the mid-september end of the field season, average weekly sea-surface temperatures were higher than the previous three years means. Plastics: Plastic in various forms was observed washing up on numerous occasions throughout the season, mostly after mid-august during strong north or northwest winds. These occurrences were photodocumented. Most of the large items were plastic water bottles and buoys. In the seaweed there were lots of nurdles small plastic manufacturing pellets. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Thanks to the Tiĝlaˆx and Homer Ocean Charters for transporting us and our gear to and from the island safely and efficiently. Maritime Helicopters carried Kettle, Renner, and Slater to the mainland at midseason, and Kettle back to East Amatuli in September. Lisa Spitler was the contact for our daily check-ins and for our float plans each time we used the skiff. A big thanks to Heather Renner and Leslie Slater for their help with camp setup, scaling steep cliffs, reaching into burrows, and eagerly helping with camp chores for the first two weeks of the camp s operation. REFERENCES Dragoo, D. E., H. M. Renner, and D. B. Irons Breeding status and population trends of seabirds in Alaska, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Report, AMNWR 2015/03. Homer, Alaska. Kettle, A. B Biological monitoring at East Amatuli Island, Alaska in U. S. Fish and Wildlife. Service. Report., AMNWR 2013/03. Homer, Alaska. Lourie, K.S. and E.P. Bailey Summer food habits of river otters in the Barren Islands, Alaska. Unpublished report, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Homer, Alaska. 3

6 Manuwal, D. A Breeding biology of seabirds on the Barren Islands, Alaska. Unpublished report, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services, Anchorage, Alaska. Nishimoto, M Status of fork-tailed storm-petrels at East Amatuli Island during the summer of Unpublished report, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Homer, Alaska. Roseneau, D. G., A. B. Kettle, and G. V. Byrd Common murre population monitoring at the Barren Islands, Alaska, Unpublished final report by the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, Homer, Alaska for the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, Anchorage, Alaska (Restoration Project 93049). Roseneau, D. G., A. B. Kettle, and G. V. Byrd Common murre population monitoring at the Barren Islands, Alaska, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Restoration Project Final Report (Restoration Project 99144), U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, Homer, Alaska. Wilson, F. H., C. P. Hults, H. R. Schmoll, P. J. Haeussler, J. M. Schmidt, L. A. Yehle, and K. A. Labay (compilers) Preliminary geologic map of the Cook Inlet Region, Alaska, Including parts of the Talkeetna, Talkeetna Mountains, Tyonek, Anchorage, Lake Clark, Kenai, Seward, Iliamna, Seldovia, Mount Katmai, and Afognak 1:250,000-scale quadrangles. Open-File Report U. S. Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey. 4

7 FIGURES AND TABLES 5

8 Figure 1. Location of East Amatuli Island and other annual monitoring sites across the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. 6

9 N 50 km Figure 2. Location of the Barren Islands, Alaska 7

10 N 5 km Figure 3. Map of the Barren Islands group. 8

11 Figure 4. East Amatuli Island, showing locations of common murre (COMU), black-legged kittiwake (BLKI), tufted puffin (TUPU), and fork-tailed storm-petrel (FTSP) monitoring areas. 9

12 Fledglings / chicks no data Year Figure 5. Maximum fledging success of fork-tailed storm-petrels at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Error bars show one standard deviation, calculated with ratio estimation. Fork-tailed storm-petrel Reproductive performance 10

13 Table 1. Summary reproductive performance of fork-tailed storm-petrels at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Maximum fledging success represents maximum potential estimates by assuming that any chick still present at last check will fledge. Year Nest sites w/chicks (D) Max. nest sites w/ chicks fledged (Fmax) a Maximum fledging success (Fmax/D) no data a Fmax=maximum number of chicks potentially fledged and includes both fledged chicks and all chicks still present at last check, regardless of age. 11

14 Table 2. Standard deviation for Maximum fledging success of fork-tailed storm-petrels at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Year No. plots Sampling design a Maximum fledging success Cluster by plot no data Cluster by plot Cluster by plot 0.00 a For sampling clustered by plot, standard deviation values are calculated using a ratio estimator. 12

15 Table 3. By-plot reproductive performance of fork-tailed storm-petrels at East Amatuli Island, Alaska in Parameter Plot Total SD a Nest sites with chicks (D) Max. nest sites w/ chicks fledged (Fmax) b Maximum fledging success (Fmax/D) a Standard deviation is calculated with ratio estimation, using plots as the sample unit. b Fmax=maximum number of chicks potentially fledged and includes both fledged chicks and all chicks still present at last check, regardless of age. 13

16 Wing growth rate (mm/d) no data Year Figure 6. Growth of wing chord (mm/d) of fork-tailed storm-petrel chicks at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Error bars show one standard deviation. Chick growth 14

17 Mass growth rate (g/d) no data Year Figure 7. Growth in mass (g/d) of fork-tailed storm-petrel chicks at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Error bars show one standard deviation. rate 15

18 Table 4. Mean growth rates of fork-tailed storm-petrel chicks at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. SD = standard deviation. Year Mass (g/day) Wing chord (mm/day) Mean SD Range n Mean SD Range n to to no data no data to to to to

19 Number of burrows no data Year Figure 8. Summary number of burrows in fork-tailed storm-petrel plots on East Amatuli Island, Alaska, Population trend 17

20 Table 5. By-plot number of burrows in fork-tailed storm-petrel plots at East Amatuli Island. Year Plot Total no data

21 Table 6. Frequency of occurrence of prey types (percentage of samples containing each prey type) in regurgitation samples from mistnetted fork-tailed storm-petrels at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Prey no samples No. samples collected Invertebrates not yet analyzed not yet analyzed Amphipoda Gammaridea Unid. lysianassid Euphausiaceae Thysanoessa intermis Thysanoessa spinifera Unid. thysanoessid Unid. euphausiid Decapoda Unid. shrimp Fish Myctophidae Unid. myctophid Osmeridae Mallotus villosus Unid. fish Unid. non-larval fish Unid. larval fish Other Unid. offal Chick diet 19

22 Table 7. Prey composition (for each prey type, percentage of the total number of items of all prey types) in regurgitation samples from mistnetted fork-tailed storm-petrels at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Prey no samples No. samples collected Invertebrates not yet analyzed not yet analyzed Amphipoda Gammaridea Unid. lysianassid Euphausiaceae Thysanoessa intermis Thysanoessa spinifera Unid. thysanoessid Unid. euphausiid Decapoda Unid. shrimp Fish Myctophidae Unid. myctophid Osmeridae Mallotus villosus Unid. fish Unid. non-larval fish Unid. larval fish Other Unid. offal

23 Table 8. Mean hatch date of common murres on productivity plots at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. For chicks with adequate observational data, hatch date was calculated from egg-to-chick observations. Otherwise hatch date was back-calculated from the disappearance date of chicks that disappeared late in the season. Sample size is the number of nest-sites. Standard deviation (SD) is affected by irregular plot observation intervals. Year Mean hatch SD n Aug no data Aug Aug Common murre Breeding chronology 21

24 Table 9: Frequency distribution of hatch dates for common murres at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Data are from periodic observations of eggs and chicks (Column A), back-calculation from chick-disappearance dates (Column B), and both methods combined (Column C). Column A includes only egg-sites with pre- and post-hatching observations <=7 days apart; Column C uses chick-disappearance dates for nest-sites that do not meet Column A requirements but do contain chicks that disappear at least 10 days after mean hatch date of Column A. Irregular observation intervals cause artificial clumping of distribution. Date Number of chicks hatching 2011 (A) 2011 (B) 2011 (C) (A) 2013 (B) 2013 (C) 2014 (A) 2014 (B) 2014 (C) 01 Aug no data Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep n

25 Table 10. Reproductive performance of common murres at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Number of chicks observed in each plot more than 10 days after the plot s mean hatch date. Year Plot Total a no data no data a Total shown only for years with observations of complete plot series. Reproductive performance 23

26 Mean count plot set 8-plot set no data Year Figure 9. Mean counts of adult murres on productivity plots at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. The 10-plot set was not counted in Error bars show one standard deviation. Population trend 24

27 Table 11. Counts of adult murres on the complete set of 10 murre productivity plots at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Values include a small number of thick-billed murres (~5%). Replicate a no data 568 no data Mean n St. dev First count 5 Aug - 13 Aug - Last count 29 Aug - 15 Aug - a In 2014 not all 10 plots were counted. 25

28 Table 12. Totals of adult murres counted on productivity plots at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Sample of plots limited to the eight counted in Values include a small number of thick-billed murres (~5%). Replicate a no data Mean n St. dev b First count 5 Aug - 13 Aug 21 Jul Last count 29 Aug - 1 Sep 30 Aug a In 2014 all counts were made from photographs. b Within replicates, in 2014 plots were counted within three days of each other. Standard deviation is therefore not a measure of variation among days. 26

29 Table 13. Numbers of common murres counted from photographs of productivity plots during the census period at East Amatuli Island, Alaska in Replicate a Plot Total a Within replicates, plots were counted within three days of each other. 27

30 Figure 10. Example of photographs used for identifying prey (capelin in this case) in murre bill-loads. Chick diet 28

31 Prey composition (%) Decabrachia Osmeridae Salmonidae Gadidae Zaproridae Ammodytidae Unidentified Year 0 Figure 11. Prey composition (for each prey type, percentage of the total number of prey items) for observations of murre bill-loads at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Sample sizes are above columns. Observations were not made in 2012 and

32 Table 1. Prey composition (for each prey type, percentage of the total number of items of all prey types) for observations of murre bill-loads at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. (Continued on next page.) Prey (cont.) No. samples Invertebrates Cephalopoda Decabrachia Unid. squid Fish Osmeridae Mallotus villosus Salmonidae Unid. salmonid Gadidae Unid. gadid Zaproridae Zaprora silenus Ammodytidae Ammodytes hexapterus Unidentified

33 Table 14 (continued with additional years). Prey No. samples Invertebrates Cephalopoda Decabrachia Unid. squid Fish Osmeridae Mallotus villosus Salmonidae Unid. salmonid Gadidae Unid. gadid Zaproridae Zaprora silenus Ammodytidae Ammodytes hexapterus Unidentified

34 Growth rate (g/d) no data Year Figure 12. Growth in mass (g/d) of tufted puffin chicks at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Error bars show one standard deviation. Tufted puffin Chick growth 32

35 Table 15. Mean growth in mass of tufted puffin chicks at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. SD = standard deviation. Year Mass gain (g/d) Mean SD Range n no data

36 Number of burrows no data Year Figure 13. Summary number of burrows in tufted puffin plots on East Amatuli Island, Alaska, 34

37 Table 16. Number of tufted puffins burrows in plots at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Parameter Plot Total no data Population trend 35

38 Table 17. Burrow-screen deployment time and yield at East Amatuli Island, Alaska in Date Duration of people or screens in habitat (h:min) Duration all screens set (h:min) Burrows screened Screen samples ( bill-loads ) Screen prey items 23 July 6:05 4: August 5:55 4: August 6:00 4: August 6:00 4: August 5:40 4: Chick diet 36

39 Species composition (%) Cephalopoda Crustacea Osmeridae Salmonidae Gadidae Scorpaenidae Ammodytidae Larval fish Year no data 0 Figure 14. Prey composition (for each prey type, percentage of the total number of prey items of all types) in diets of tufted puffin chicks at East and West Amatuli islands, Alaska, Alaska. Sample sizes are above columns. Prey categories with less than 5 percent composition in all years are omitted. 37

40 Table 18. Prey composition (for each prey type, percentage of the total number of prey items) in diets of tufted puffin chicks at East and West Amatuli islands, Alaska. Samples ( bill-loads ) were collected from burrow screening or found at burrows during chick growth and productivity monitoring. Prey (cont.) No. samples No. items Invertebrates Cephalopoda Decabrachia Unid. squid Octopodidae Unid. octopus Unid. cephalopod Crustacea Euphausiaceae Unid. euphausiid Unid. crustacean Unid. larval invertebrate Unid. invertebrate Fish Osmeridae Hypomesus pretiosus Mallotus villosus Salmonidae Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Unid. salmonid Myctophidae Unid. laternfish Gadidae Microgadus proximus Gadus macrocephalus Theragra chalcogramma Unid. gadid Scorpaenidae Unid. Sebastes rockfish Hexagrammidae Ophiodon elongatus Cottidae Unid. sculpin (rows continued next page) 38

41 Table 18 (continued with additional rows). Prey (cont.) Cyclopteridae Eumicrotremus orbis Unid. lumpsucker Liparidae Unid snailfish Zaproridae Zaprora silenus Ammodytidae Ammodytes hexapterus Pleuronectidae Unid. flatfish Unid. larval fish Unid. fish Unid. eggs

42 Table 18 (continued with additional years). Prey No. samples no No. items data Invertebrates Cephalopoda Decabrachia Unid. squid Octopodidae Unid. octopus Unid. cephalopod Crustacea Euphausiaceae Unid. euphausiid Unid. crustacean Unid. larval invertebrate Unid. invertebrate Fish Osmeridae Hypomesus pretiosus Mallotus villosus Salmonidae Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Unid. salmonid Myctophidae Unid. laternfish Gadidae Microgadus proximus Gadus macrocephalus Theragra chalcogramma Unid. gadid Scorpaenidae Unid. Sebastes rockfish Hexagrammidae Ophiodon elongatus Cottidae Unid. sculpin (rows continued next page) 40

43 Table 18 (continued with additional rows). Prey Cyclopteridae Eumicrotremus orbis Unid. lumpsucker Liparidae Unid snailfish Zaproridae Zaprora silenus Ammodytidae Ammodytes hexapterus Pleuronectidae Unid. flatfish Unid. larval fish Unid. fish Unid. eggs

44 Frequency of occurrence (%) Cephalopoda Crustacea Osmeridae Salmonidae Gadidae Scorpaenidae Ammodytidae Zaproridae Larval fish Year no data Figure 15. Frequency of occurrence of prey types (percentage of samples containing each prey type) in the diet of tufted puffin chicks at East and West Amatuli islands, Alaska. Sample sizes are above columns. Prey categories with less than 10 percent frequency in all years are omitted. 42

45 Table 19. Frequency of occurrence of prey types (percentage of samples containing each prey type) in the diet of tufted puffin chicks at East and West Amatuli islands, Alaska. Samples ( bill loads ) collected from burrow screening or found at burrows during chick growth and productivity monitoring. Prey (cont.) No. samples Invertebrates Cephalopoda Decabrachia Unid. squid Octopodidae Unid. octopus Unid. cephalopod Crustacea Euphausiaceae Unid. euphausiid Unid. crustacean Unid. larval invertebrate Fish Osmeridae Hypomesus pretiosus Mallotus villosus Salmonidae Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Unid. salmonid Myctophidae Unid. laternfish Gadidae Microgadus proximus Gadus macrocephalus Theragra chalcogramma Unid. gadid Scorpaenidae Unid. Sebastes rockfish Hexagrammidae Ophiodon elongatus Cottidae Unid. sculpin (rows continued next page) 43

46 Table 19 (continued with additional rows). Prey (cont.) Cyclopteridae Eumicrotremus orbis Unid. lumpsucker Liparidae Unid snailfish Zaproridae Zaprora silenus Ammodytidae Ammodytes hexapterus Pleuronectidae Unid. flatfish Unid. larval fish Unid. fish Unid. eggs

47 Table 19 (continued with additional years). Prey No. samples no data Invertebrates Cephalopoda Decabrachia Unid. squid Octopodidae Unid. octopus Unid. cephalopod Crustacea Euphausiaceae Unid. euphausiid Unid. crustacean Unid. larval invertebrate Fish Osmeridae Hypomesus pretiosus Mallotus villosus Salmonidae Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Unid. salmonid Myctophidae Unid. laternfish Gadidae Microgadus proximus Gadus macrocephalus Theragra chalcogramma Unid. gadid Scorpaenidae Unid. Sebastes rockfish Hexagrammidae Ophiodon elongatus Cottidae Unid. sculpin (rows continued next page)

48 Table 19 (continued with additional rows). Prey Cyclopteridae Eumicrotremus orbis Unid. lumpsucker Liparidae Unid snailfish Zaproridae Zaprora silenus Ammodytidae Ammodytes hexapterus Pleuronectidae Unid. flatfish Unid. larval fish Unid. fish Unid. eggs

49 Percent composition by mass (%) Cephalopoda Osmeridae Salmonidae Gadidae Scorpaenidae Zaproridae Ammodytidae Larval fish Year no data 0 Figure 16. Biomass of prey types (for each prey type, percent of total sample mass) in the diet of tufted puffin chicks at East and West Amatuli islands, Alaska. Sample sizes are above columns. Prey categories with less than 5 percent composition in all years are omitted. 47

50 Table 20. Biomass of prey types (for each prey type, percent of mass of all samples) in the diet of tufted puffin chicks at East and West Amatuli islands, Alaska. Samples ( bill-loads ) collected from burrow screening or found at burrows during chick growth and productivity monitoring. Prey (cont.) No. samples Total mass (g) Invertebrates Cephalopoda Decabrachia Unid. squid Octopodidae Unid. octopus Unid. cephalopod Crustacea Euphausiaceae Unid. euphausiid Unid. crustacean Unid. larval invertebrate Unid. invertebrate Fish Osmeridae Hypomesus pretiosus Mallotus villosus Salmonidae Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Unid. salmonid Myctophidae Unid. laternfish Gadidae Microgadus proximus Gadus macrocephalus Theragra chalcogramma Unid. gadid Scorpaenidae Unid. Sebastes rockfish Hexagrammidae Ophiodon elongatus Cottidae Unid. sculpin (rows continued next page) 48

51 Table 20 (continued with additional rows). Prey (cont.) Cyclopteridae Eumicrotremus orbis Unid. lumpsucker Liparidae Unid snailfish Zaproridae Zaprora silenus Ammodytidae Ammodytes hexapterus Pleuronectidae Unid. flatfish Unid. larval fish Unid. fish Unid eggs

52 Table 20 (continued with additional years). Prey No. samples no Total mass (g) data Invertebrates Cephalopoda Decabrachia Unid. squid Octopodidae Unid. octopus Unid. cephalopod Crustacea Euphausiaceae Unid. euphausiid Unid. crustacean Unid. larval invertebrate Unid. invertebrate Fish Osmeridae Hypomesus pretiosus Mallotus villosus Salmonidae Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Unid. salmonid Myctophidae Unid. laternfish Gadidae Microgadus proximus Gadus macrocephalus Theragra chalcogramma Unid. gadid Scorpaenidae Unid. Sebastes rockfish Hexagrammidae Ophiodon elongatus Cottidae Unid. sculpin (rows continued next page) 50

53 Table 20 (continued with additional rows). Prey Cyclopteridae Eumicrotremus orbis Unid. lumpsucker Liparidae Unid snailfish Zaproridae Zaprora silenus Ammodytidae Ammodytes hexapterus Pleuronectidae Unid. flatfish Unid. larval fish Unid. fish Unid eggs

54 Number of nest-starts no data Year Figure 17. Number of black-legged kittiwake nest-starts on plots at East Amatuli Island. Black-legged kittiwake Reproductive performance 52

55 Table 21. Number of black-legged kittiwake nest-starts on plots at East Amatuli Island. Year Plot Total no data

56 Table 22. Number of black-legged kittiwake fledglings in productivity plots at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Year Plot Total from plots observed in 2014 Total from all plots no data (2014 plots only a ) no no 2014 (2014 plots only) 1 data data a In 2014, kittiwake productivity observations were made with time-lapse cameras. Not all plots were observed. 54

57 Fledglings / nest starts no data Year Figure 18. Reproductive performance of black-legged kittiwakes at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Error bars show one standard deviation. 55

58 Table 23. Reproductive performance of black-legged kittiwakes at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. SD = standard deviation. Year Plot Total SD no data a Standard deviation is calculated with ratio estimation, using plots as the sample unit. 56

59 Table 24. Reproductive performance of black-legged kittiwakes at East Amatuli Island, Alaska in SD = standard deviation. Parameter Plot Total a SD b Nests (A) Fledglings (G) Fledglings/nests (G/A) a The sample unit for the fledging success point calculation index is the nest-site (not plots). b Standard deviation is calculated with ratio estimation, using plots as the sample unit. 57

60 Mean number of birds no data Year Figure 19. Mean counts of black-legged kittiwakes on productivity plots on East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Error bars show one standard deviation. Population trend 58

61 Table 25. Numbers of black-legged kittiwakes counted on productivity plots at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Totals from 11 plots. Replicate a no data b Mean n St. dev First count 7 Aug - 13 Aug 17 July Last count 13 Aug - 15 Aug 26 July a In 2011 and 2013 counts of all plots in a replicate were completed on the same day. In 2014, for each replicate, plots were counted within three days of each other. Thus, in 2014 standard deviation is not among count-days. b In 2014 no photograph of Plot 5 was taken for Replicate 3. So that the rest of the data from that day could be included in this dataset, we created a datum (43) for Plot 5 from the mean of the previous two replicates of that plot. 59

62 Table 26. Numbers of black-legged kittiwakes counted from photographs of productivity plots at East Amatuli Island, Alaska in Replicate a Plot Total no b data a Within replicates, plots were counted within three days of each other. b No photograph of Plot 5 was taken for Replicate 3. So that the rest of the data from that day could be included in this dataset, we created a datum (43) for Plot 5 from the mean of the previous two replicates of that plot. 60

63 Table 27. Number of glaucous-winged gull fledglings counted on Amatuli Cove Beach, East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Date GWGU fledglings 31 Jul 0 no nd 0 01 Aug nd a data nd 0 02 Aug nd Aug Aug 0-0 nd 05 Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug nd Aug Aug Aug nd Aug nd Aug nd Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug 0-16 nd 26 Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep maximum a nd= No data Glaucous-winged gull Beach counts of fledglings 61

64 Temperature ( C) Mean Jan Jan 29 Jan- 4 Feb Feb 26 Feb- 4 Mar Mar 26 Mar- 1 Apr 9-15 Apr Apr 7-13 May May 4-10 Jun Jun 2-8 Jul Jul 30 Jul- 5 Aug Aug 27 Aug- 2 Sep Sep Figure 20. Mean weekly sea surface temperatures ( C) at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Miscellaneous Sea surface temperature 62

65 Table 28. Mean weekly sea surface temperatures ( C) at East Amatuli Island, Alaska. Week Mean Jan - 07 Jan Jan - 14 Jan Jan - 21 Jan Jan - 28 Jan Jan - 04 Feb Feb - 11 Feb Feb - 18 Feb Feb - 25 Feb Feb - 04 Mar Mar - 11 Mar Mar - 18 Mar Mar - 25 Mar Mar - 01 Apr Apr - 08 Apr Apr - 15 Apr Apr - 22 Apr Apr - 29 Apr Apr - 06 May May - 13 May May - 20 May May - 27 May May - 03 Jun Jun - 10 Jun Jun - 17 Jun Jun - 24 Jun Jun - 01 Jul Jul - 08 Jul Jul - 15 Jul Jul - 22 Jul Jul - 29 Jul Jul - 05 Aug Aug - 12 Aug Aug - 19 Aug Aug - 26 Aug Aug - 02 Sep Sep - 09 Sep Sep - 16 Sep

66 Precipitation (mm) Jul 18 Jul 19 Jul 20 Jul 21 Jul 22 Jul 23 Jul 24 Jul 25 Jul 26 Jul 27 Jul 28 Jul 29 Jul 30 Jul 31 Jul 01 Aug 02 Aug 03 Aug 04 Aug 05 Aug 06 Aug 07 Aug 08 Aug 09 Aug 10 Aug 11 Aug 12 Aug 13 Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 28 Aug 29 Aug 30 Aug 31 Aug 01 Sep 02 Sep 03 Sep 04 Sep 05 Sep 06 Sep 07 Sep 08 Sep 09 Sep 10 Sep 11 Sep 12 Sep 13 Sep 14 Sep 15 Sep 16 Sep 17 Sep 18 Sep 19 Sep Date in 2014 Precipitation Figure 21. Precipitation at the East Amatuli Island field camp during the 2014 field season. 64

67 Table 29. Precipitation (mm) at East Amatuli Island, Alaska during field seasons. Amount recorded in the morning of each date. Date Jul - no Jul - data Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep (rows continued next page) 65

68 Table 29 (continued with additional rows). Date Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep

69 Annotated list of wildlife species observed at East Amatuli Island, Alaska in 2014 (15 July to 20 September). Abundance categories are defined as follows: --Abundant: annual, sure to see many. --Common: annual, sure to see some. --Uncommon: annual, likely to see some. --Rare: annual but not guaranteed to see any. --Irregular: not annual but numerous records. --Casual: not annual, only a few records. --Accidental: only one or two records ever. Status categories are defined as follows: --Breeder: evidence of breeding, either confirmed (observations of current nests, eggs, or chicks; adults carrying nesting materials or food to nests or chicks; recently fledged young; distraction displays) or probably (observations of pairs or territorial behavior). --Resident non-breeder: occurs throughout season but does not breed at site. --Migrant: through-migrant, recorded regularly but only during migratory period. --Vagrant: recorded outside known breeding, wintering, and migrating range. Birds Brant (Branta bernicula). Casual migrant. A flock of about eight birds flew past the skiff on the way out to the Point on 17 July. Canada goose (Branta canadensis). Casual migrant. A flock of about 10 birds flew over the cabin on 12 August, headed west toward the Valley, and then up toward Valley Rise. The next morning there was honking heard from multiple individuals from the Valley area from NB s tent. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). Common migrant. One individual seen in Amatuli Cove on 28 July and 23 August. Five individuals observed flying through Amatuli Cove on 15 August. An individual was seen in Amatuli Cove with a green-winged teal on 31 August. Green-winged teal (Anas crecca). Common migrant. Two individuals (possibly a male and female pair) were observed roosting by the western stream in Amatuli Cove on 20 August, and by the eastern stream in Amatuli Cove on 27 August. An individual was seen in Amatuli Cove with a mallard on 31 August. White-winged scoter (Melanitta fusca). Saw a flock of about 20 birds on the water below the puffin productivity plot GC on 20 July. Red-throated loon (Gavia stellata). An immature was seen foraging in Amatuli Cove on 3 September. Common loon (Gavia immer). An adult in winter plumage was spotted foraging in Amatuli Cove on 26 August. Red-necked grebe (Podiceps grisegena). An adult in winter plumage was seen foraging in Amatuli Cove on 6 and 7 September. Annotated list of wildlife species Northern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis). Common breeder. Sixty pairs were recorded breeding in 1978 and 1979 at three sites on the island (Manuwal 1980). Through the years breeding pairs have been observed 67

70 at the most southwesterly of these sites. One individual was opportunistically sighted flying near there in the 2014 season, on 15 July. Fork-tailed storm-petrel (Oceanodroma furcata). Abundant breeder. One estimate is that East Amatuli Island hosts approximately 75,000 pairs (Manuwal 1978). This species uses several habitat types across the island, but mainly nests inside talus covered by soil and vegetation. Productivity and chick growth are monitored annually at sites east and west of camp, at the base of the slopes. Double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus). Individuals were sighted occasionally throughout the season. Red-faced cormorant (Phalacrocorax urile). Common breeder. Individuals observed regularly throughout the season, including some that were seen foraging in Amatuli Cove in the beginning of August. Pelagic cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus). Common breeder. Individuals observed regularly throughout the season, including some that were seen foraging in Amatuli Cove in the beginning of August. Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Bald eagles were seen daily throughout the season. They have been observed roosting above the kittiwake and murre colonies at the southeast tip of the island, and above the tufted puffin colonies on the southern part of the island. An immature was seen late in the season by NB. Northern harrier (Circus cyaneus). Common migrant. Commonly seen late in the season starting on 27 August when an adult female was seen being chased by a merlin above storm-petrel plots D and E. A juvenile/immature was confirmed on 10 September, but was also seen prior and after that date to the end of the season. Black oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani). Common breeder. Adults were seen and heard regularly throughout the season. A pair with a fledgling was seen at the west end of Amatuli Cove Beach on 8 August. The most seen at one time was 7 on that date. Semipalmated plover (Charadrius semipalmatus). Individuals seen often on Amatuli Cove Beach during the first 2 weeks of August, none after 13 August. Spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularius). Individuals seen throughout the field season. One to two individuals were spotted on the rocks at the east side of Amatuli Cove Beach toward the end of the season. Solitary sandpiper (Tringa solitaria). One individual observed on 29 and 30 July in the marshy area in the Valley on the way to the storm-petrel E plots. 68

71 Greater yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca). Three individuals were seen on 26 July by HMR. One individual seen and heard on 27 July in the marshy area in the Valley on the way to storm-petrel plot E, and one was heard calling on 31 July and 3 August near that area. Least sandpiper (Calidris minutilla). Many individuals observed on Amatuli Cove Beach in July and August, none seen after 16 August. At the most, 10 individuals spotted at a time on 27 July. Western sandpiper (Calidris mauri). One individual observed on 21 July on Amatuli Cove Beach. Common murre (Uria aalge). Abundant breeder. Productivity and population trend is monitored annually. Chick diet has been monitored in past years. Thick-billed murre (Uria lomvia). Abundant breeder. Approximately 5 percent of the murres breeding in the productivity plots East Amatuli are thick-billeds; this is probably representative of the rest of the island s murre species ratio. Pigeon guillemot (Cepphus columba). Common breeder. Breeding has been observed in the past. Guillemots were seen foraging in Amatuli Cove multiple times throughout the season. Marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus). A ground nesting murrelet was recorded on East Amatuli in Up to two individuals observed foraging in Amatuli Cove throughout the season, an individual in winter plumage was first spotted on 15 August. NB heard one calling below TUPU productivity plot AC on 18 September. Parakeet auklet (Cepphus columba). Common breeder. Small groups up to 25 individuals seen in Amatuli Cove until 5 August. None seen there afterward. Rhinoceros auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata). Common breeder, but possibly only recently. Burrows are located on the east and west ends of Amatuli Cove Beach. Horned puffin (Fratercula corniculata). Abundant breeder. Tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata). Abundant breeder whose breeding parameters and population trend are monitored annually. One individual was observed repeatedly foraging in Amatuli Cove for sandlance beginning in the middle of August. Black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla). Abundant breeder. Most breed on the northeast tip of the island. Productivity and population trend is monitored annually. Chick growth has been recorded in the past, but is not currently. 69

72 Glaucous-winged gull (Larus glaucescens). Abundant breeder. The main colony is on top of the peak to the west of Valley Rise. Adults and fledglings on Amatuli Cove Beach were counted daily. Merlin (Falco columbarius). Uncommon migrant. We started seeing this falcon frequently beginning on 26 August when an individual was spotted perched on a spruce tree above the storm-petrel D plots. On 27 August an individual was photographed while chasing a female northern harrier. A juvenile was photographed on 7 September near the freshwater lake above the cabin. Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus). Common breeder. No nest has been recorded, but recently fledged young have been seen on East Amatuli in the past. Adults were seen frequently throughout the season, particularly above the puffin productivity/growth plots on the south side of the island. Olive-sided flycatcher (Contopus cooperi). Migrant. A visitor to camp on 5 August, perched on wooden frame of old wall tent for nearly 8 hours. During that time it was observed flying and catching at least 3 bees. Common raven (Corvus corax). Common breeder. Although no nest or fledglings were seen during the current season, nests and young have been found in prior seasons. Several (7-8) individuals were often seen at one time. Pacific wren (Troglodytes pacificus). Common breeder. Individuals seen throughout the season, and fledglings observed near camp. Varied thrush (Ixoreus naevius). Migrant. One individual observed on 17 September on beach dunes near camp. American pipit (Anthus rubescens). Individuals seen throughout the season, most commonly in July. Primarily spotted on the hills above TUPU plot C, above Valley Rise. Lapland longspur (Calcarius lapponicus). Migrant. Adult female observed and photographed on 7 and 10 September in rocky outcroppings above Valley Rise. 70

73 Orange-crowned warbler (Oreothlypis celata). Migrant. Individuals seen throughout the field season. Began seeing juveniles at the end of July and throughout the rest of the season. A juvenile was photographed on 2 August in the spruce trees near Valley Rise. Yellow warbler (Setophaga petechia). Migrant. A female was photographed in the spruce trees by Valley Rise on 2 August and in the spruce trees off of the main trail near storm petrel plots E on 19 August. A juvenile was spotted and photographed in camp on 5 August. Yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata). Migrant. One individual sighted on 7 September. It had a brown body with a butter butt, so it could have been a migrating juvenile. Wilson s warbler (Cardellina pusilla). Migrant. An adult female was first observed on 19 August. One individual observed on 30 August. Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis). Common breeder. Recorded this species nearly daily. Recently fledged young were spotted by camp on 23 July. Fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca). Common breeder. Individuals seen throughout the season, one recently fledged young photographed on 2 August and seen with an adult throughout the season. Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia). Many fledglings observed on 8 August on Amatuli Cove beach, not recorded whether they were recent or not. Golden-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla). Common breeder. Individuals seen throughout the season. A juvenile was photographed on 2 August and recorded on 3 September. Gray-crowned rosy-finch (Leucosticte arctoa). Common breeder. Recently fledged young were spotted above Valley Rise on 25-Jul. Common redpoll (Acanthis flammea). Migrant. Flocks seen and/or heard on 25 July, 31 July, and 30 August. 71