At-Sea Activity Patterns of Marbled Murrelets Adjacent to Probable Inland Nesting Areas in the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia

1995 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. Rodway ◽  
Jean-Pierre L. Savard ◽  
Donald C. Garnier ◽  
Moira J. F. Lemon
The Condor ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 95 (4) ◽  
pp. 831-848 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. Rodway ◽  
Heidi M. Regehr ◽  
Jean-Pierre L. Savard

1975 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 418-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Spencer G. Sealy

Two field seasons (1970 and 1971) were spent studying the feeding ecology of the ancient murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus) and the marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) near Langara Island, Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia. The relatively offshore-feeding ancient murrelet nests in colonies, lays two-egg clutches, and has truly precocial young. The inshore-feeding marbled murrelet is apparently a solitary nester, has one-egg clutches, and semiprecocial young. The ancient murrelet feeds predominantly on two species of euphausiid crustaceans, Euphausia pacifica and Thysanöessa spinifera, during the early portion of the terrestrial phase of its breeding cycle (early April to late May), but takes a fish, Ammodytes hexapterus, toward the end of the cycle. It is believed that this change in diet as the season progresses reflects a change in prey availability. The apparent patchy distribution of the prey of the ancient murrelet, which requires more time to locate the food source, has probably promoted the evolution of the 72-h incubation shifts found in this species.During the terrestrial phase of the marbled murrelet's breeding cycle (early May to late August), the fish Ammodytes hexapterus and Cymatogaster aggregata are predominantly taken. During the very early part of its breeding season, Thysanöessa spinifera constitutes a considerable part of its diet.


1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 977-984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. Rodway ◽  
Heidi M. Regehr ◽  
Jean-Pierre L. Savard

We compared Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) activity levels in May, June, and July 1990 in four habitats in the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia: alpine, old-growth forest at high elevation, old-growth forest at low elevation, and second-growth forest. The number of Marbled Murrelet detections was highest in old-growth forests. In alpine areas, small numbers of murrelet detections were mostly of distant birds flying over low-elevation forest. Numbers of detections were higher in low-elevation than in high-elevation old-growth forests in May and July, but not in June. Proportions of detections within smaller radii of survey stations were higher in low elevation forest in all months. The highest activity levels were associated with old-growth forest stands of large Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). The few detections that occurred in second-growth forests were mostly of distant birds. Stations in second-growth forest close to stands of old-growth forest had more frequent detections than stations with no old-growth forest nearby. Our results support the association of Marbled Murrelets with old-growth forests. Limitations of the survey methodology are discussed.


1888 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 347-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geo. M. Dawson

Previous observations in British Columbia have shown that at one stage in the Glacial period—that of maximum glaciation—a great confluent ice-mass has occupied the region which may be named the Interior Plateau, between the Coast Mountains and Gold and Eocky Mountain Kanges. From the 55th to the 49th parallel this great glacier has left traces of its general southward or southeastward movement, which are distinct from those of subsequent local glaciers. The southern extensions or terminations of this confluent glacier, in Washington and Idaho Territories, have quite recently been examined by Mr. Bailley Willis and Prof. T. C. Chamberlin, of the U.S. Geological Survey. There is, further, evidence to show that this inland-ice flowed also, by transverse valleys and gaps, across the Coast Range, and that the fiords of the coast were thus deeply filled with glacier-ice which, supplemented by that originating on the Coast Range itself, buried the entire great valley which separates Vancouver Island from the mainland and discharged seaward round both ends of the island. Further north, the glacier extending from the mainland coast touched the northern shores of the Queen Charlotte Islands.


1970 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 1109-1114 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. G. Gruchy

Occella impi, a new species of sea poacher, is described from a single specimen captured in the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia. Occella impi differs from other species of Occella in having spinous plates on the breast, the anus nearer the anal fin, and fewer anal rays; also, the numbers of bony body plates are distinctive. A key to the known species of Occella, based primarily on the numbers of bony body plates, is included. The size of the maxillary barbel and number of infralateral plates are shown to be characteristic of the genera Occella and Stellerina.


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