Migration routes of the Arctic tern from the northernmost breeding areas on Svalbard

This project is focused on the migratory abilities of the Arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea) breeding on the archipelago Svalbard. The main aim is to reveal the autumn and spring migratory path of individuals from breeding sites on Svalbard. To achieve this task, we are planning to equip 30 Arctic terns with geolocators (small tracking device). The data obtained from the geolocators will bring insight into migration from the northernmost breeding areas of the species. The second aim of this project is to supplement our previous finding about incubation behaviour. To achieve this task we are planning to assess the body fitness with applying method based on parasitological investigations and morphological characteristics of birds in two different breeding colonies. The results of this project will contribute to outline how Arctic terns respond to the rapidly changing Arctic ecosystems. Moreover, obtained blood samples will be examined for parasites (parasite prevalence and diversity in Arctic terns) as well as used for DNA isolation and subsequent phylogenetic studies of the genus Sterna.