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Red-throated Diver Energetics Project: Preliminary Results from 2018/19 2020

Abstract

Red-throated divers (Gavia stellata) are known to be displaced by marine industry activities but the energetic, physiological and demographic consequences of displacement are currently unknown. If divers are already energetically constrained they may struggle to meet the additional energetic demands following displacement.

Using biologging methods, novel data on the non-breeding season locations and foraging behaviour of divers breeding in Finland, Iceland and Scotland were obtained. Preliminary analyses of the data found red-throated divers tended to perform shallow dives of 2–6 metres depth, rarely diving deeper than 20 metres. Total time spent in foraging behaviour each day was relatively consistent throughout the breeding and non-breeding season, at around 3–5 hours per day, with no evidence of foraging at night. Following further data collection during 2019/20, more comprehensive analysis and modelling of diver foraging behaviour and energetics will be undertaken.

Resource type Publication

Topic category Environment

Reference date 2020·01·28

Citation
Duckworth, J., Green, J., Daunt, F., Johnson, L., Lehikoinen, P., Okill, D., Petersen, A., Petersen, I.K., Väisänen, R., Williams, J., Williams, S. & O’Brien, S. 2020. Red-throated Diver Energetics Project: Preliminary Results from 2018/19. JNCC Report No. 638, JNCC, Peterborough, ISSN 0963-8091.

Lineage
Whilst divers are known to be displaced by offshore wind development, very limited evidence currently exists on red-throated diver foraging behaviour and energetics.

Responsible organisation
Communications, JNCC publisher

Limitations on public access No limitations

Use constraints Available under the Open Government Licence 3.0

Metadata date 2020·01·28

Metadata point of contact
Communications, JNCC

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