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| The first few weeks after arrival on the tundra in late May and early June
appear to be the most critical period in the summer schedule of arctic-breeding
waders. Food availability and snow-cover determine population densities and
timing of egg-laying, and early egg-laying seems essential, since it increases the
chances for re-laying in case of nest failure, optimises timing of hatching of the
chicks in relation to the peak period of arthropod food for the young, facilitates
early departure of the adults and maximises the time available for the
young to grow strong before winter begins in early September.
Conditions for waders in most of high-arctic Greenland seem favourable as
compared to several other arctic areas, in that the climate is continental with
favourable weather conditions during most summers, and the predation pressure
on eggs and chicks is normally moderate. With the projected climate
change, the waders of high-arctic Greenland may face more unstable breeding
conditions, and in the long term some of the wader species may be hampered
by overgrowing of the high-arctic tundra withmore lush low-arctic vegetation. | |
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