Density dependent breeding success of Goldeneye Bucephala clangula at Angarnsjöängen

Abstract

Wildfowl have been censused annually since 1978 at Angarnsjöängen (59°33'N, 18°10'E), a shallow formerly drained eutrophic lake, extensively restored 1992­—1993. The breeding success of wildfowl has been monitored since 1995. Breeding data on Goldeneye Bucephala clangula, from 1995 to 2002, are presented. During this period the population increased from slightly less than 10 pairs to around 15 pairs although no nest boxes were provided. Mean brood size (of small young) was 6.8±3.2 pulli, and it did not vary between years or with number of breeding pairs or broods. Broods hatched early in the season tended to be larger than those hatched late. There was a significant negative relationship between the number of breeding pairs and breeding success (measured as number of broods per breeding pair or as number of small young per breeding pair). The total number of small young in the population was independent of the number of breeding pairs (44±9.5 pulli annually). These results suggest that Goldeneye has a negatively density dependent reproductive output in Angarnsjöängen, and together with similar results from a study conducted in Finland, it implies that this may be a general pattern in this species.