Spatial Ecology of Two Sympatric Arctic Waders Species - Using GPS Tracking to Investigate Space Use and Nest Site Selection in Ruff and Wood Sandpiper in Tavvavuoma, Sweden
(2025) BION02 20242Degree Projects in Biology
- Abstract
- Understanding how sympatric species partition resources is critical for biodiversity conservation, particularly in vulnerable ecosystems. As Arctic ecosystems undergo rapid climate change, understanding how animals use space and select habitats becomes essential for effective conservation planning. Advances in technologies can now provide high-resolution data on species movements and habitat use, improving our ability to identify and prioritize areas for protection. This study uses bio-logging to investigates the spatial ecology and habitat selection of two Arctic-breeding waders, the Ruff (Calidris pugnax) and the Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) in the unique palsa-mire ecosystem of Tavvavuoma, Swedish Lapland.
GPS tracking of 18... (More) - Understanding how sympatric species partition resources is critical for biodiversity conservation, particularly in vulnerable ecosystems. As Arctic ecosystems undergo rapid climate change, understanding how animals use space and select habitats becomes essential for effective conservation planning. Advances in technologies can now provide high-resolution data on species movements and habitat use, improving our ability to identify and prioritize areas for protection. This study uses bio-logging to investigates the spatial ecology and habitat selection of two Arctic-breeding waders, the Ruff (Calidris pugnax) and the Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) in the unique palsa-mire ecosystem of Tavvavuoma, Swedish Lapland.
GPS tracking of 18 individuals (13 Ruffs, 5 Wood Sandpipers) was conducted over three breeding seasons (2022–2024) to assess nest site selection, home range size, habitat preference, and interspecific spatial overlap. Wood Sandpipers had significantly larger individual core ranges, though total home ranges did not differ significantly between species. Population-level analyses showed greater total home range size in Wood Sandpipers, while Ruffs had larger core areas. Habitat selection analyses revealed that Ruffs preferred mires, whereas Wood Sandpipers favored shrub-dominated areas. Nest site selection mirrored these differences in overall patterns of habitat selection.
The results reveal partial spatial segregation between these sympatric species and support the hypothesis of niche partitioning during the breeding season. These differences are likely influenced by variations in parental care, foraging behavior, and nesting ecology. The study highlights the value of high-resolution tracking data in understanding the breeding ecology of declining Arctic wader populations and informing conservation strategies. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- Using GPS to Study Nest site and Habitat Selection in Arctic Birds Species
Protecting bird species that move across large areas is challenging, especially when they breed in remote places that are hard to reach. New technologies like GPS tracking now allow scientists to follow their movements closely, helping us understand how birds use their environments, and which areas are most important to protect.
Ruffs (Calidris pugnax) and Wood Sandpipers (Tringa glareola) are two bird species that breed in the same Arctic wetlands of northern Sweden. Even though they live in the same area, they don’t necessarily use it in the same way. To learn how they share space and choose places to live during the breeding season, GPS tracking was used... (More) - Using GPS to Study Nest site and Habitat Selection in Arctic Birds Species
Protecting bird species that move across large areas is challenging, especially when they breed in remote places that are hard to reach. New technologies like GPS tracking now allow scientists to follow their movements closely, helping us understand how birds use their environments, and which areas are most important to protect.
Ruffs (Calidris pugnax) and Wood Sandpipers (Tringa glareola) are two bird species that breed in the same Arctic wetlands of northern Sweden. Even though they live in the same area, they don’t necessarily use it in the same way. To learn how they share space and choose places to live during the breeding season, GPS tracking was used to follow their movements over three summers (2022-2024) in Tavvavuoma, a remote Arctic wetland ecosystem known as a palsa-mire.
The data showed that Ruffs like to stay in mires (wet, marshy areas) and often build their nests close together, while Wood Sandpipers preferred areas with more shrubs and moved around more. These differences are probably because of how they care for their eggs, female Ruffs look after the nest alone, so they have to stay close to the nest, while Wood Sandpipers pairs work together, giving them the freedom to move around more and travel farther to find food.
Even though both species used some of the same areas, they mostly spent time in different parts of the landscape and chose different places to nest. This way, they don’t have to compete as much for space or food which helps them live and take care of their nests without fighting for resources.
By tracking the birds and seeing where they go, this study helps us understand more about their breeding habits. The Arctic is changing fast because of climate change, so this study helps us find and protect the places birds need to live.
Master’s Degree Project in Biology – Animal Ecology, 45 credits, 2025
Department of Biology, Lund University
Supervisors: Susanne Åkesson and Liam Langley Animal Navigation Lab (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9192311
- author
- Ólafsson, Ísak
- supervisor
-
- Liam Langley LU
- Susanne Åkesson LU
- organization
- course
- BION02 20242
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- language
- English
- id
- 9192311
- date added to LUP
- 2025-06-03 08:55:46
- date last changed
- 2025-06-03 08:55:46
@misc{9192311,
abstract = {{Understanding how sympatric species partition resources is critical for biodiversity conservation, particularly in vulnerable ecosystems. As Arctic ecosystems undergo rapid climate change, understanding how animals use space and select habitats becomes essential for effective conservation planning. Advances in technologies can now provide high-resolution data on species movements and habitat use, improving our ability to identify and prioritize areas for protection. This study uses bio-logging to investigates the spatial ecology and habitat selection of two Arctic-breeding waders, the Ruff (Calidris pugnax) and the Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) in the unique palsa-mire ecosystem of Tavvavuoma, Swedish Lapland.
GPS tracking of 18 individuals (13 Ruffs, 5 Wood Sandpipers) was conducted over three breeding seasons (2022–2024) to assess nest site selection, home range size, habitat preference, and interspecific spatial overlap. Wood Sandpipers had significantly larger individual core ranges, though total home ranges did not differ significantly between species. Population-level analyses showed greater total home range size in Wood Sandpipers, while Ruffs had larger core areas. Habitat selection analyses revealed that Ruffs preferred mires, whereas Wood Sandpipers favored shrub-dominated areas. Nest site selection mirrored these differences in overall patterns of habitat selection.
The results reveal partial spatial segregation between these sympatric species and support the hypothesis of niche partitioning during the breeding season. These differences are likely influenced by variations in parental care, foraging behavior, and nesting ecology. The study highlights the value of high-resolution tracking data in understanding the breeding ecology of declining Arctic wader populations and informing conservation strategies.}},
author = {{Ólafsson, Ísak}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Spatial Ecology of Two Sympatric Arctic Waders Species - Using GPS Tracking to Investigate Space Use and Nest Site Selection in Ruff and Wood Sandpiper in Tavvavuoma, Sweden}},
year = {{2025}},
}