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Conservation Efforts for Declining Loon Population on Squam Lake

Explore reasons behind population declines of loons on Squam Lake and possible stressors including contaminants, pathogens, and habitat changes. Research plan includes investigating sources of contaminants in loon eggs and analyzing their impact on survival and breeding. Field-based projects involve sediment and water sampling in Squam Lake and surrounding watersheds to identify potential threats. Project ideas focus on data analysis, literature reviews, and understanding the effects of metals on loon health.

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Conservation Efforts for Declining Loon Population on Squam Lake

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  1. Declines of loons on Squam Lake

  2. Population and productivity trends

  3. Loons on Squam, like loons everywhere, are facing multiple stressors: • Displacement of nest sites • Weather events/water level changes • Contaminants • Pathogens • Food web changes • Predators • Boating • Lead fishing tackle and bass boats

  4. N 0 5 0 1 0 0 k m % # U m b a g o g - J u v e n i l e # # U m b a g o g - J u v e n i l e # # U m b a g o g - J u v e n i l e # # U m b a g o g - A d u l t M a l e % # U m b a g o g - J u v e n i l e # # U m b a g o g - A d u l t M a l e O n w a y - A d u l t M a l e # # # # U m b a g o g - A d u l t M a l e # % # # M a s s a b e s i c - J u v e n i l e G r a f t o n P o n d - J u v e n i l e R e c o v e r y S i t e s f o r N e w H a m p s h i r e B a n d e d L o o n s ( I n s e t l a k e s c a l e i n c r e a s e d f o r c l a r i t y )

  5. WorkingHypotheses to Explain Winter Mortality of Squam Loons • Contaminants bound to fat cells that affect loons after twin stressors of feather molt and migration, causing mortality on wintering grounds • Pathogens that become acute during feather molt and migration, causing winter mortality

  6. Sulfur and carbon stable isotopes for Squam loons and reference species

  7. Loon Systems Dynamics Model (in part)

  8. Squam Total PBDE’s and Egg Analysis 2005-2007 Pairs disappeared High Total PBDE Medium levels of Total PBDE Low Total PBDE

  9. Al Pre-2005

  10. Al 2005-2007

  11. Cr Pre-2005

  12. Cr 2005-2007

  13. Cr Post-2007

  14. Squam Investigation Research Plan • Identify sources of contaminants found in Squam loon eggs • Identify relative impact of contaminants and other stressors on loon survival and breeding success

  15. Project Possibilities: Field Based • Sediment sampling • On Squam: • Add to data from Envi. Chem. project from 2012 • Different areas of lake • Assimilate and analyze data from 2012-2013 • Reference lakes: • Winnipesaukee and other lakes not part of Squam watershed • Squam watershed lakes and/or streams: • Little Squam, White Oak, Barville, Kusumpe, Intervale • Streams flowing into Squam Lake

  16. Project Possibilities: Field Based • Water sampling • Squam • Squam watershed lake • Streams flowing into Squam • Eggs?

  17. Project possibilities: Data or Literature Based • Correlations among metals • Literature review of lowest observed effects levels (LOEL’s) and physiological/reproductive effects of metals • Additive/synergistic/antagonistic effects of metals and/or organic contaminants • Sources of different metals in the environment

  18. Questions?

  19. Known mortality of Squam Loons, 2004-2011 *Chart does not include suspected 2010 mortality from monofilament

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