Wintering Eiders Acquire Exceptional Se and Cd Burdens in the Bering Sea: Physiological and Oceanographic Factors

During late winter (March) in the Bering Sea, levels of Se in livers and Cd in kidneys of spectacled eiders Somateria fischeri were exceptionally high (up to 489 and 312 µg g−1 dry mass, respectively). Comparison of organ and blood samples during late winter, early spring migration, and breeding suggests that the eiders’ high Se and Cd burdens were accumulated at sea, with highest exposure during winter. High exposure may have resulted from high metabolic demands and food intake, as well as concentrations in food. In the eiders’ remote wintering area, their bivalve prey contained comparable Se levels and much higher Cd levels than in industrialized areas. Patterns of chlorophyll a in water and sediments indicated that phytoplankton detritus settling over a large area was advected into a persistent regional eddy, where benthic prey densities were higher than elsewhere and most eider foraging occurred. Se and Cd assimilated or adsorbed by bloom materials apparently also accumulated in the eddy, and were incorporated into the bivalve prey of eiders. Atmospheric deposition of dust-borne trace elements from Asia, which peaks during the ice-edge phytoplankton bloom from March to May, may augment processes that concentrate Se and Cd in eider prey. Compared with freshwater birds, some sea ducks (Mergini) accumulate much higher concentrations of trace elements, even with the same levels in food, with no apparent ill effects. Nevertheless, the absolute and relative burdens of different elements in sea ducks vary greatly among areas. Our results suggest these patterns can result from (1) exceptional accumulation and tolerance of trace elements when exposure is elevated by high food intake or levels in food, and (2) atmospheric and oceanographic processes that concentrate trace elements in local benthic food webs

Development of a Community Education Plan for Urban White-Tailed Deer Management

Rising white-tailed deer populations throughout the United States are a concern to wildlife managers and the public. The greatest controversy is the conflict between people and deer in urban areas. This problem is further compounded by the fact that some people do not understand or care about the importance of maintaining urban deer populations. It is important to find out how to best educate communities about urban deer and urban management. The objectives of this study were to 1) Determine the attitudes and opinions of community residents regarding the deer population in Stevens Point, 2) Determine what combination of communication modes to use to reach a large percentage of the population in Stevens Point, and 3) Develop a community education plan to educate community residents about deer population management and the different management options available. Five hundred randomly selected residents of Stevens Point, Wisconsin were surveyed (59.8% response rate) to discover how they felt about the city’s urban deer population. Residents had mixed opinions about the sight of deer in their yards; however, most residents (73%) were concerned about getting into a deer-vehicle accident. Sixty-five percent of residents agreed with the use of urban bow hunting by recreational hunters in Stevens Point, significantly more than other management techniques. Residents also reported what modes of communication they preferred to learn about deer through. Printed materials, newsletters, television news/commercials, and websites were the most preferred modes and as such, examples of each were included in the Urban Deer Management Community Education Plan. Information that residents wanted to see included in the community education plan varied so all deer-related information was included with the exception of the one topic that residents were really not interested in learning about: deer reproductive biology. The purpose of the Education Plan is to create a more informed citizenry that will be capable of assisting urban wildlife managers in making accurate decisions about the city’s deer herd. The Urban Deer Management Community Education Plan could easily be modified and implemented in other communities living with urban deer populations.University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and Whitetails Unlimite