Частота встречаемости клубных пар большой конюги (Aethia cristatella) при высокой и резко снизившейся численности птиц в колонии.

Abstract

The crested auklet is a medium-sized planktivorous seabird of the Alcidae family with complex social behavior, one of the interesting forms of which is the formation of club pairs in addition to existing breeding pairs. The occurrence of club pairs in this species was studied on the Talan Island (Sea of Okhotsk) in 1988-1989, when the colony was in a good condition, and in 2008-2015, when its population decreased several times. The research showed that the proportion of individuals with club partners is higher in a high-population period (35 %) and lower in a low-population period (18 %); the differences, however, are not significant. In both study periods, from 73% (1988-1989) to 80 % (2008-2015) individuals were consistent in following the chosen strategy of forming or not forming club pairs for at least two seasons. The presence of club pairs seems to facilitate the change of mate in the next breeding season, but club mates then become partners relatively seldom.