Ecology of lesser scaup and amphipods in the Upper-Midwest: Scope and mechanisms of the Spring Condition Hypothesis and implications for migration habitat conservation

I tested the scope of the Spring Condition Hypothesis in explaining the continental population decline of lesser scaup (Aythya affinis; hereafter scaup) and explored potential mechanisms affecting female body condition to assist conservation efforts for population recovery.; Lipid reserves of females currently are lower than historical values during spring migration throughout Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota; females catabolized lipids throughout this area (indexed by concentrations of plasma-lipid metabolites, which accounted for 75% of the variation in mass change). My results indicate that a large segment of the continental scaup population likely is affected by decreased lipid reserves, which could cause reductions in breeding propensity and reproductive success.; Hepatic cadmium was negatively correlated with lipid reserves of females during spring migration; however, current cadmium concentrations only accounted for 11% of the observed decrease in lipid reserves of females between Illinois and Minnesota.; Wetland use by scaup was positively correlated with amphipod densities throughout the upper-Midwest, indicating a preference for amphipods. Amphipod densities were markedly lower (1--12 m-3) and scaup were consuming fewer amphipods in the upper-Midwest relative to historical records. Scaup probably must spend more time searching for food within and among wetlands than they did historically. Fish occurred in 74, 78--84, and 31--45% of wetlands in Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota, respectively, whereas historically they occurred in only 10--20% of wetlands. Amphipod densities were negatively correlated to fish densities and sedimentation. My results indicate that there has been a decrease in amphipod densities throughout the upper-Midwest, which likely is causing the observed decreases in lipid reserves of scaup.; My results generally were consistent with the Spring Condition Hypothesis and indicate that wetland restoration efforts are needed throughout the upper-Midwest, but especially in Iowa and southern Minnesota. Managers should provide abundant populations of amphipods (over 26 m-3 geometric mean across the landscape) and target wetlands that: (1) have large (> 500 m diameter) open-water zones, (2) are deep enough to support over-wintering populations of amphipods, (3) allow management of fish communities, and (4) the surrounding land can be managed to reduce sedimentation.