ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF NORTH AMERICAN SEA DUCKS

• Status and Trends of North American Sea Ducks: Reinforcing the Need for Better Monitoring; Timothy D. Bowman, Emily D. Silverman, Scott G. Gilliland, and Jeffery B. Leirness
• Phylogenetics, Phylogeography, and Population Genetics of North American Sea Ducks (Tribe: Mergini); Sandra L. Talbot, Sarah A. Sonsthagen, John M. Pearce, and Kim T. Scribner
• Population Dynamics of Sea Ducks: Using Models to Understand the Causes, Consequences, Evolution, and Management of Variation in Life History Characteristics; Paul L. Flint
• Infectious Diseases, Parasites, and Biological Toxins in Sea Ducks; Tuula E. Hollmén and J. Christian Franson
• Dealing with Deficits: Breeding Costs, Nutrient Reserves, and Cross-Seasonal Effects in Sea Ducks; Ray T. Alisauskas and Jean-Michel Devink
• Metals and Trace Elements, Petroleum, Organic Pollutants, and Radiation in Sea Ducks; J. Christian Franson
• Foraging Behavior, Ecology, and Energetics of Sea Ducks; Ramunas Žydelis and Samantha E. Richman
• Variation in Migration Strategies of North American Sea Ducks; Margaret R. Petersen and Jean-Pierre L. Savard
• Remigial Molt of Sea Ducks; Jean-Pierre L. Savard and Margaret R. Petersen
• Site Fidelity, Breeding Habitats, and the Reproductive Strategies of Sea Ducks; Mark L. Mallory
• Breeding Systems, Spacing Behavior, and Reproductive Behavior of Sea Ducks; John M. Eadie and Jean-Pierre L. Savard
• Harvest of Sea Ducks in North America: A Contemporary Summary; Thomas C. Rothe, Paul I. Padding, Liliana C. Naves, and Gregory J. Robertson
• Habitats of North American Sea Ducks; Dirk V. Derksen, Margaret R. Petersen, and Jean-Pierre L. Savard
• Conservation of North American Sea Ducks; W. Sean Boyd, Timothy D. Bowman, Jean-Pierre L. Savard, and Rian D. Dickson
• Conclusions, Synthesis, and Future Directions: Understanding Sources of Population Change; Daniel Esler, Paul L. Flint, Dirk V. Derksen, Jean-Pierre L. Savard, and John M. Eadie
• Appendix A: North American Sea Ducks
• Index

The past decade has seen a huge increase in the interest and attention directed toward sea ducks, the Mergini tribe. This has been inspired, in large part, by the conservation concerns associated with numerical declines in several sea duck species and populations, as well as a growing appreciation for their interesting ecological attributes. Reflecting the considerable research recently conducted on this tribe, Ecology and Conservation of North American Sea Ducks examines the 15 extant species of sea ducks from North America.
Chapters are organized conceptually to focus on, compare, and contrast the ecological attributes of the tribe. Experts provide in-depth treatments of a range of topics, including:
• Population dynamics and genetics
• Infectious diseases and parasites
• Breeding costs and cross-seasonal affects
• Contaminant burdens
• Foraging behavior and energetics
• Migration strategies, molt ecology, and habitat affinities and dynamics
• Breeding systems and reproductive behavior
• Harvest history
Published in collaboration with and on behalf of the American Ornithological Society, this volume in the highly-regarded Studies in Avian Biology series presents a comprehensive synthesis of sea duck ecology, documents factors that have caused population declines of some species, and provides managers with measures to enhance recovery of depressed populations of sea ducks in North America. Capturing the current state of knowledge of this unique tribe, it provides a benchmark for where we are in conservation efforts and suggests future directions for researchers, managers, students, conservationists, and avian enthusiasts.

Key Selling Features:
• Provides the first comprehensive assessment of the status, population dynamics, and demography of sea ducks across North America
• Characterizes phylogeography, phylogenetics, and population genetics
• Examines the diseases, parasites, biological toxins, and contaminants affecting sea ducks
• Provides an up-to-date assessment of migration and molt strategies
• Documents reproductive energetics, strategies, and behavior