What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine whether human presence acts as a scarecrow effect that reduces perceived predation risk and increases reproductive investment in breeding common eiders.

January 1, 2026Conservation PhysiologyOpen Access

Same species, different risks: predation shapes hormonal profiles in a breeding sea duck, the common eider

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Authors

BMBertille Mohring SSSeyyed Sajjad Vakili Shahrbabaki FAFrédéric Angelier

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Overview

Comparative field study reveals altered hormonal profiles and higher prolactin in common eiders shielded by human activity, suggesting a scarecrow effect enhances reproductive investment.

Key Points

To determine whether human presence acts as a scarecrow effect that reduces perceived predation risk and increases reproductive investment in breeding common eiders.
Monitored hormonal profiles in two proximate common eider (Somateria mollissima) colonies with contrasting conditions: low human disturbance with high predation risk versus high human disturbance (intense tourism) with low predation risk.
Measured baseline corticosterone (CORT), thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), stress-induced CORT levels, and baseline prolactin (PRL) in incubating females.
Eiders in the low-disturbance/high-predation colony exhibited higher baseline CORT and T3 levels than those in the high-disturbance/low-predation colony, reflecting greater incubation energy expenditure under predation pressure.
Stress-induced CORT responses remained similar across colonies, whereas baseline PRL levels were higher in the high-disturbance/low-predation colony, indicating preserved stress sensitivity alongside enhanced parental effort.

Cite This Study

Mohring et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a6fbbb4febe604dd70895d0 https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/coag036

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January 1, 2026Conservation PhysiologyOpen Access

Same species, different risks: predation shapes hormonal profiles in a breeding sea duck, the common eider

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

BMBertille Mohring SSSeyyed Sajjad Vakili Shahrbabaki FAFrédéric Angelier

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Comparative field study reveals altered hormonal profiles and higher prolactin in common eiders shielded by human activity, suggesting a scarecrow effect enhances reproductive investment.

Key Points

To determine whether human presence acts as a scarecrow effect that reduces perceived predation risk and increases reproductive investment in breeding common eiders.
Monitored hormonal profiles in two proximate common eider (Somateria mollissima) colonies with contrasting conditions: low human disturbance with high predation risk versus high human disturbance (intense tourism) with low predation risk.
Measured baseline corticosterone (CORT), thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), stress-induced CORT levels, and baseline prolactin (PRL) in incubating females.
Eiders in the low-disturbance/high-predation colony exhibited higher baseline CORT and T3 levels than those in the high-disturbance/low-predation colony, reflecting greater incubation energy expenditure under predation pressure.
Stress-induced CORT responses remained similar across colonies, whereas baseline PRL levels were higher in the high-disturbance/low-predation colony, indicating preserved stress sensitivity alongside enhanced parental effort.

Cite This Study

Mohring et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a6fbbb4febe604dd70895d0 https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/coag036

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