Late-summer abundance and distribution of marine birds in Kasegaluk Lagoon, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

Abstract

Hypothesized that Kasegaluk Lagoon would support an avifauna similar to that found in other lagoon systems in arctic Alaska. In fact, the richness and diversity of bird species were greater than in lagoon systems in the Beaufort Sea. Brant Branta bernicla was the most abundant species in Kasegaluk Laoon compared to lagoons in the Beaufort Sea, where the oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis is the dominant species. Several other species or species groups, such as glaucous gull Larus hyperboreus, Arctic tern Sterna paradisaea, small shorebirds (mainly Calidris and Phalaropus), and lesser snow goose Chen caerulescens were also relatively abundant in Kasegaluk. -from Authors