EFFECTS OF WATER SALINITY ON GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF COMMON EIDER {SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA) DUCKLINGS JEAN-MICHEL A. DEVINK/"^ H . GRANT GILCHRIST/ AND ANTONY W . DIAMOND^ 'Fncidty of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunszvick. 28 Dineen Drive. Fmlcricton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada; Kanadiav Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Research Centre, Cnrleton University. 1125 Cohmel By Drive, Rai'i'n Road, Ottawa, Ontario KIA 0H3. Canada; and ^Atlantic Cooperative Wildlife Ecologi/ Rcsearcli Network, University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 45111, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 6E1. Canada
ABSTRACT.—The need for fresh water may affect growth and survival of young waterfowl, including ducklings of sea ducks that are routinely raised in coastal marine habitats. We studied the influence of water salinity on growth and survival of Common Eider {Soinateria mollissima) ducklings collected from nests on Southampton Island, Nunavut, Canada, in July 2001 and 2002. In 2001, 50 ducklings were partitioned into five groups (71 = 10) and assigned a water salinity treatment for 6.5 days. Treatments included fresh water (
